Tokyo Marathon 2013
The 7th Tokyo Marathon was held on Feb. 24, 2013. As usual, many runners wore costumes. These photos were taken at the finish line at Tokyo Big Sight. More Tokyo…
Yae no Sakura, NHK Taiga Drama 2013
This year’s year-long, weekly NHK Taiga Drama TV series will start airing tonight on Jan. 6. Titled “Yae no Sakura,” it’s about a woman warrior named Yae Niijima (1845-1932) from…
Tokyo Skytree opens
Congratulations to Tokyo Skytree and people in Sumida and Taito Wards for today’s official opening of Japan/Tokyo’s mega tourist attraction of the century. It’s going to be very difficult to…
Annular solar eclipse above Tokyo
We in Tokyo were very fortunate to have fleeting breaks in the clouds during the annular eclipse this morning at around 7:34 am. It was a very cloudy sky when…
Adachi Ward’s Japan-US Cherry Blossom Centennial
On April 22, 2012, Adachi Ward in Tokyo marked the centennial of its cherry tree gift to the US. The ceremony was held at Toshi Nogyo Park along the Arakawa…
Japanese stamps for the centennial of the Washington, DC cherry blossoms
The Japan Post Office has issued commemorative stamps for the centennial of the Washington, DC cherry blossoms. The sheet of ten 80-yen stamps is selling for 800 yen at all…
Sakura Project at Yurakucho Lumine
During March 22-25, 2012 in Yurakucho Lumine, they had a giant vase of cherry blossoms from all 47 prefectures. The “plant hunter” gathered all the cherry tree branches and either…
Early-blooming cherry blossoms in Matsuda, Kanagawa
Went to see Mt. Fuji and early-blooming (hayasaki) cherry blossoms in Matsuda, Kanagawa Prefecture in March 2012. These cherry blossoms are the Kawazu sakura (河津桜) variety which bloom earlier and…
Fukushima Prefecture PR fair
Fukushima Prefecture held a PR fair (がんばろうふくしま！大交流フェア) at Tokyo International Forum on March 20, 2012 to promote itself. Lots of stage entertainment, food booths, mascot characters, and talk shows. Famous…
Sanja Matsuri Boat Procession
On March 18, 2012, Sunday, To mark the 700th anniversary of Asakusa Sanja Matsuri Festival in 2012, a boat procession was held on Sumida River on March 18, 2012 (浅草三社祭斎行700年祭…