Last additions - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

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Last additions - NAGANO 長野県

We had to walk it. This was April 10, 2004, one of the days for Shimo-sha Shrine's Yamadashi when they hauled the logs from the mountain forest.Apr 29, 2007

Shimosuwa Station 下諏訪駅Apr 29, 2007

Go straight on this road in front of the station.Apr 29, 2007

Billboard depicting Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) at Shimosuwa Station.Apr 29, 2007

Store your luggage here. Not enough lockers at the train station so they provide this service. 400 yen/day.Apr 29, 2007

Scenic view of Lake Suwa from graveyard.Mar 06, 2007

Oguchi cemetary. This neighborhood is full of Oguchi families, not necessarily related to each other.Mar 06, 2007

Oguchi graves.Mar 06, 2007

Oguchi Taro's gravestone. He is buried together with his younger brother Sadao.Mar 06, 2007

Oguchi Taro's grave on right.Mar 06, 2007

Behind this small shrine is a large graveyard full of Oguchi family gravestones.Mar 06, 2007

Path to shrineMar 06, 2007

Oguchi Taro's gravestone in foreground.Mar 06, 2007

Oguchi Taro's house (red roof). He lived on the 2nd floor. On the left is a storehouse.Mar 06, 2007

Mar 06, 2007

Area of the Oguchi Taro monument (seen on left), in winter.Mar 06, 2007

Neighborhood of Minato where Oguchi Taro lived.Mar 06, 2007

Road sign pointing to the Oguchi Taro statueMar 06, 2007

Biography of Oguchi Taro. 小口太郎顕彰碑Mar 06, 2007

Smaller statue of Oguchi Taro inside Okaya City Hall, next to the entrance.Mar 06, 2007

Side view of Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in winter. 小口太郎顕彰碑Mar 06, 2007

Song monument with the entire lyrics of Biwako Shuko no Uta. On the shore of Lake Suwa in Okaya, Nagano. 琵琶湖周航の歌　全歌詞碑Mar 06, 2007

Music box. Three versions of the song can be heard through a speaker by pressing a button. Also see the video at YouTube to hear the song.The monument included a music box where you could listen to three versions of the song through a speaker. I was immediately fascinated by the song when I heard it (together with the wind and waves of Lake Suwa).Mar 06, 2007

Side view of Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in spring with azaleas.Mar 06, 2007

Statue of Oguchi Taro 小口太郎銅像Short walk from JR Okaya Station. Walk toward the shore of Lake Suwa. The monument is near the mouth of Tenryu River.Mar 06, 2007

Closeup of Taro Oguchi statueHe graduated in 1919 and furthered his studies at Tokyo Imperial University (now University of Tokyo) in the science department. In 1921, he invented the wired and wireless multiplex telegraph and telephone system which was patented in eight countries. He was an extremely bright young man with a promising future.

In 1922, he entered the university's aeronautical research institute as a researcher. However, his life soon took a downturn from 1923 when he received a military conscription notice. A love interest for marriage also did not work out as desired. His physical health deteriorated and he terminated his own life the following year in 1924 at age 26.Mar 06, 2007

Rear view, looking toward Lake Suwa.Mar 06, 2007

Oguchi Taro Statue and Biwako Shuko no Uta Song Monument. On the shore of Lake Suwa, Okaya, Nagano. 歌碑と小口太郎銅像This was where I first heard the song, "Biwako Shuko no Uta." In May 2004, I was in Suwa, Nagano Pref. to see and photograph the Onbashira Festival (held every 6 years). My hotel was in the neighboring city of Okaya on the shores of Lake Suwa.

I walked around the lake and came across this statue of Taro Oguchi and song monument. I was very surprised when I saw the word "Biwako" (Lake Biwa). This was Nagano, not Shiga, so it was most unexpected to see "Biwako" here. I read the song lyrics on the monument and was surprised and delighted to see the names of well-known places in Shiga.

The monument even had music box (seen on left) where you could hear three versions of the song. I immediately found it intriguing.Mar 06, 2007

Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in winter.Mar 06, 2007

About Taro Oguchi.The song was written as a collaboration among boatmates, but Taro Oguchi (小口太郎) (1897-1924) is credited as being the main song writer. He was born in 1897 (Meiji 30) in Minato-mura village, now part of Okaya city on the shores of Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture.

He grew up in a loving and respected family and demonstrated an early talent for writing, music (violin and shakuhachi), and sports (judo, skiing, skating). Since he was the eldest son expected to take over the family home, there was opposition for him to go away for college. However, his father was persuaded to allow Taro to apply for college at the elite No. 3 High School (later to become Kyoto University). It was one of nine college-level schools in Japan, the No. 3 school being one of the most elite.

Contrary to family expectations, Taro passed the entrance exam, went school in Kyoto in 1914 and joined the rowing and speech clubs. In 1917, he wrote the famous song about Lake Biwa which first went public in 1918.Mar 06, 2007

Statue of Oguchi TaroMar 06, 2007

Grand finale dance called Itomachi Ko-utaMar 05, 2007

Canora Boys and Girls ChorusMar 05, 2007

Nakamura Naoko singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" up to verse 3. 中村直子さんが三番まで歌われた。Mar 05, 2007

Nakamura Naoko singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song." The first Japanese person to sing the song in public. 「琵琶湖周航の歌」の英語版も歌われた。Mar 05, 2007

African dance, a real crowd pleaser.Mar 05, 2007

In Okaya, Nagano, Nakamura Naoko singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song." This is the first time this English version was sung in public outside Shiga Prefecture.Mar 05, 2007

African drumming and danceMar 05, 2007

Brazilian Dance by Ashinaga Gakuen Brazilian SchoolMar 05, 2007

Full-house audience. Many international groups provided free entertainment.Mar 05, 2007

Indonesian dance by Miyazaki AniMar 05, 2007

Taiko drummers from Okaya Roman TaikoMar 05, 2007

Brazilian schoolMar 05, 2007

New Zealand panelMar 05, 2007

Lake Biwa Rowing Song Exhibition panels. 「琵琶湖周航の歌」英語版の展示コーナーMar 05, 2007

Exhibition panels 展示コーナーMar 05, 2007

Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) exhibition panel by Philbert Ono at Okaya, Nagano.Mar 05, 2007

Reception counter with programs and newsletters in different languages.Mar 05, 2007

Exhibition area featuring native costumes, photos, etc.Mar 05, 2007

Mar 05, 2007

Entrance to the smaller hallMar 05, 2007

Canora Hall, venue for the Okaya International Exchange Association's 15th anniversary festival.Mar 05, 2007

Lobby of Canora HallMar 05, 2007

Okaya City Hall 岡谷市役所Jan 29, 2007

Onbashira manhole in Okaya, Nagano.Jan 29, 2007

Bridge with a mountain design, over Tenryu River.Jan 29, 2007

Ilf Douga Museum, works by Takei Takeo 武井武雄余技作品展示室Jan 29, 2007

Ilf Doga MuseumJan 29, 2007

Ramu-ramu Coffee Shop in Ilf Doga Museum 喫茶ラムラムJan 29, 2007

Along Tenryu River in winter.Jan 29, 2007

Doga-kan-dori street leading to Ilf Plaza.Jan 29, 2007

Ilf Doga Museum, works by Takei Takeo 武井武雄作品展示室Jan 29, 2007

Ilf Plaza, with shops and a culture center.　イルフプラザJan 29, 2007

Ilf Doga Museum イルフ童画館Jan 29, 2007

Lala store in front of Okaya Station. A small city hall office inside might be able to give tourist info.Jan 29, 2007

JR Okaya Station platform. JR岡谷駅Jan 29, 2007

View from train station overpassJan 29, 2007

JR Okaya Station platformJan 29, 2007

Oguchi Taro song monumentJan 28, 2007

Tenryu River at sunsetJan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

Map of lake shore areaJan 28, 2007

Lakeside parkJan 28, 2007

Water fountain and azaleas in springJan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

Mother and child sculptureJan 28, 2007

PlaygroundJan 28, 2007

DucksJan 28, 2007

Ducks fly away on Lake Suwa.Jan 28, 2007

Lakeside parkJan 28, 2007

Ducks fly to safety.Jan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

SculptureJan 28, 2007

Water fountainJan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

Lakeside parkJan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

Oguchi Taro monumentJan 28, 2007

Locomotive from Ohio, USA used in the 1930s.Jan 28, 2007

Sculpture in lakeside parkJan 28, 2007

Lake Suwa during a warm winter.Jan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

Carp caught from Lake SuwaJan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

Kamaguchi FloodgateJan 28, 2007

Bridge across Kamaguchi FloodgateJan 28, 2007

Lake SuwaJan 28, 2007

Bridge across Kamaguchi FloodgateJan 28, 2007

Lake Suwa and bridgeJan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

Lake SuwaJan 28, 2007

Lakeside parkJan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

Lake Suwa and mountainsJan 28, 2007

Jan 28, 2007

Lake Suwa and mountainsJan 28, 2007

Lake SuwaJan 28, 2007

Lake Suwa and mountainsJan 28, 2007

Lake SuwaJan 28, 2007

Jan 26, 2006

Gate to ZenkojiJan 26, 2006

Bell towerJan 26, 2006

Mall to ZenkojiJan 26, 2006

Seat backs and ad stickersThe train's seat backs had advertising stickers. When the Nagano Shinkansen reaches a terminal station (Tokyo and Nagano), the seats can turn around by itself? One thing less to do by the train's cleaning ladies.Jan 26, 2006

Nagano ShinkansenThe Nagano shinkansen has a duckbill snout.Jan 26, 2006

During the Olympics, the morning trains from Tokyo were always crowded. However, the last trains from Nagano to Tokyo were almost empty.Jan 26, 2006

Ad sticker on tray tableJan 26, 2006

A four-man bobsled.Jan 26, 2006

Amway at Tokyo StationAmway shows the way to the Nagano Shinkansen platform for people getting off the Narita Express train which comes from Narita Airport.Jan 26, 2006

An elderly couple are among a crowd of people who watched the men's hockey finals on the TV set.Jan 26, 2006

Postcard set (400 yen)Jan 26, 2006

Tokyo Station: Official postersThese were painted by Koji Kinutani and plastered everywhere in Tokyo Station. These were being sold to the public for about Y5,000. Jan 26, 2006

Yaesu underground mall: Speed skater outfits made by MizunoMizuno, an official sponsor, set up a nice Olympics exhibition in the Yaesu underground mall at Tokyo Station. There was a nice photo exhibit of past and current Winter Games and a souvenir shop as well. These three photos show part of Mizuno's exhibition.

A few speed skater outfits made by Mizuno. You may recognize the suits for China, Japan, and the USA.Jan 26, 2006

Tokyo StationJan 26, 2006

Recycle bins by Coca-colaJan 26, 2006

Even official Olympics miso pasteWould you believe the official miso? Hanamaruki Foods of Nagano was an official supplier for the Nagano Winter Games. Miso soup must have been a staple item for breakfast (and dinner) at the Olympic Village. I found this at my local supermarket.Jan 26, 2006

Olympics logo on official film (not FujiFilm)Kodak was the official Olympics film in a country where 70 percent of the film market belongs to Fuji Film. It must have been sweet revenge for Kodak because Fuji Film was the official film at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Kodak has been the official film sponsor for all Olympic Games since then. It will also be the official film for the Sydney Games in the year 2000.Jan 26, 2006

Olympics logo on official drinksBesides Coke, Coca-Cola also makes Aquarius (sports drink) and Georgia canned coffee. The Olympics logo and "Nagano 1998" figure prominently on the limited-edition cans. On the Aquarius can, notice the image of a speed skater. On the back of the Georgia coffee can, see the image of the torch relay runner. Georgia coffee was prominently advertised during the nationwide Olympic torch relay to Nagano. Jan 26, 2006

English programme (1,800 yen)Jan 26, 2006

Key chain (1,000 yen)Jan 26, 2006

IBM pins (my collection)The IBM pins were being sold for 1,000 yen each. Some people were selling them for up to 2,000 yen.Jan 26, 2006

Palm-size stuffed Snowlet (official mascot)Jan 26, 2006

Tokyo Station Olympics souvenir shopThis little space (operated by official sponsor Mizuno) in the Yaesu underground mall at Tokyo Station used to have shelves full of Olympic souvenirs. On the day before the Olympics, I saw that they were selling towels, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, mugs, postcards, Snowlets, key chains, and other things. I visited this place again on the last day of the Olympics (when I took this photo) and found a sign saying that they had sold out of Olympics souvenirs. According to the clerk, most were sold out about a week before.They only had a single rack selling expensive framed Olympic prints. The story was the same for the Snowlets House in Nagano and the Tokyo Branch at Mitsukoshi Dept. Store in Nihonbashi. I'm glad I bought my souvenirs early on.Jan 26, 2006

Fruit gelato standFruit gelato storefront with national flags and "Welcome to Nagano" signs.Jan 26, 2006

"Official No. 1 Pin Club" ShopShop selling Olympic pins. Prices ranged from 500 yen to 4,000 yen.Jan 26, 2006

The road from Nagano Station to Zenkoji Temple.Lots of Olympics advertising.Jan 26, 2006

PolicemanPoliceman in special uniform designed just for the Nagano Games. The uniform supposed to make them look more friendly.Jan 26, 2006

Souvenir shop"Japanese dress Kimono and so on." Awkward or mistaken English is nothing new in Japan. They should've used a Japanese-flag motif instead.Jan 26, 2006

Olympics auction hosted by Emi Watanabe (left), a former Olympic figure skater.Jan 26, 2006

Pin sellerThis American woman was selling pins in Nagano at her seventh Olympics. Olympic pins proved to be very popular among the Japanese.

Apparently there are pin sellers who travel to all the Olympics and major sports events making a living as a pin vendor.Jan 26, 2006

IBM billboard busesThe decals covering the window portion of the decals have little holes in them and from the inside of the bus, the decals are transparent. IBM's Olympic pins and jacket were also based on these bus decal designs.Jan 26, 2006

Local busThis was not a "wrap" bus, but it still had a Kirin ad (made of cloth) on the front.Jan 26, 2006

More billboard busesCoca-cola adorned some of the local city buses in Nagano.Jan 26, 2006

Game ends with USA scoring 10 goals and Japan zero.The final score was 10-0. Japan went on to lose all five of their matches and the US team went undefeated for the gold medal. The US and Canadian men's hockey teams were not the only ones who were put to shame at Nagano.

Japan's women's ice hockey team must feel pretty rotten about their pitiful playing on their home turf.Jan 26, 2006

Japan team mates try to comfort the goal keeper right after the US scores.Jan 26, 2006

Kids gathered at Nagano Station.Jan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

Total winners beat the total losers...The U.S. team went on undefeated to win the first Olympic gold medal in women's ice hockey. Japan lost all five of its matches (they scored a total of 2 goals) putting them in last place among the six women's hockey teams.Jan 26, 2006

Japan's goalie takes a break at Nagano Winter Olympics women's ice hockey match.Her helmet is dotted with Print Club photo stickers.Jan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

Nagano Winter Olympics women's ice hockey match.Jan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

Face to face. Japan's goal keeper was busy, busy, busy.Jan 26, 2006

Frenzy in front of Japan's goal.Jan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

Nagano Winter Olympics women's ice hockey match.Jan 26, 2006

Resurfacing the ice during intermissionJan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

5-0 on scoreboard during 1st period.In the 1st period, the scoreboard shows 5-0 in favor of the US.Jan 26, 2006

Resurfacing the ice during intermissionJan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

A US player scores and celebrates to the dismay of Japan.Jan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

A US player scores and celebrates to the dismay of Japan.Jan 26, 2006

Banging the glassI liked it when the puck slammed into the glass (BOOM!) in front of me. The protective glass, by the way, must have been at least an inch thick.Jan 26, 2006

The Nippon team huddles.The Nippon team huddle and psych themselves up before the start of the game.Jan 26, 2006

The crowd behind me.Jan 26, 2006

Start of gameJan 26, 2006

My Japanese and American flagsI tacked the flags onto the glass and proudly displayed them in front of my seat behind the goal. That's what you do when you love both countries. Since I was sitting at rinkside behind the goal, the flags (and my face and camera) could be seen on the TV broadcast.

On the left of the photo, you can see the goal referee who was sitting in a glass box. She wrapped herself in a blanket. As you can expect, the place was not warm like a coffee shop.Jan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

Cheering section for Yuiko SatomiCollege cheering section for Yuiko Satomi, a defense player for Japan.Jan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

Aqua Wing ice hockey rinkMost of the women's ice hockey matches were held at a stadium called Aqua Wing which is actually an indoor swimming pool with a sliding roof. It seemed like we were in a huge oil drum cut in half.Jan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

Aqua WingJan 26, 2006

Kita Nagano StationTo get to Aqua Wing, the ice hockey rink, we had to take a local train from Nagano Station for a short ride to the next stop at Kita Nagano Station. This Kita Nagano Station was a tiny little train station certainly not meant for large crowds. It was unbelievably small. It took some minutes before we could get out of the station which was not much larger than a normal living room. The door was also small, enough for only two people to get out at one time.Jan 26, 2006

Jan 26, 2006

Aqua Wing ice hockey rinkJan 26, 2006

Jamaica's bobsled team in Kodak PavilionThey introduced Jamaica's bobsled team. They are very popular in Japan, largely due to the comedy movie "Cool Running" which was aired in Japan before the Nagano Games started.Jan 26, 2006

Snowlets House, ticket availabilityJan 26, 2006

Kodak's Kodak-yellow pavilionOn the day I went in, they introduced Jamaica's bobsled team. They are very popular in Japan, largely due to the comedy movie "Cool Running" which was aired in Japan before the Nagano Games started.Jan 26, 2006

Snowlets HouseIt was packed. This is part of the checkout line. There were four checkout lines and each one was about 30 meters long. The line went pretty fast though. They had all kinds of souvenirs: T-shirts, sweatshirts, flags, postcards, pins, key chains, necklaces, stuffed Snowlets, mugs, and even jewelry. I went on the 6th day of the Games and it still had everything well in stock. But I later heard that the shelves were laid bare well before the Games ended. Jan 26, 2006

Entrance to Snowlets House at Olympic Plaza.The official store for Olympic souvenirs. There were a lot of ticket scalpers (all foreigners) hanging around the entrance. Inside, there was a ticket counter for events which still had seats.Jan 26, 2006

Pavilion by Kirin Brewery.Notice the "wrap" bus passing in front. Jan 26, 2006

Olympic PlazaSnowlets House and Kodak's pavilion behind it.Jan 26, 2006

To Olympic PlazaJan 26, 2006

Nagano Station, East Exit to Olympic PlazaAt the East Exit of Nagano Station, this bridge, lined with advertising banners, led the way to the Olympic Plaza which featured ten tent pavilions made by official sponsors.Jan 26, 2006