Weekends

Some gotta work:

oshigoto

youshhhh!

Some get to play:

tabetai!

This one too!

All of them!

daisuki!

oshigoto: job,
tabitai: I wanna eat it
daisuki: (I) love (them)

Under the tracks

nani?

Since I have been in Japan, I have never been especially enthralled by the the events most associated with Japan. I don't really have nay special interest in Geisha, most popular festivals, Shibuya crossing and other well-traveled spots. I do admit a weakness for Kyoto, but so far, that's about it.

Recently, for a number of reasons including the time, expense, and frustration of getting away from town as well as a bit of a change in personal circumstances, I have become more and more interested in people and how they actually live their lives.

Watch the bikes!

On what may turn out to be one of the last days of sunny weather before rainy season begins, I spent some time under the railroad tracks in Jiyugaoka. For a place under the railroad tracks, it's an awfully nice area.

Friends

It's a lovely day.

noritai!

UV

Back in the day---I've always wanted to say that---I hated summer. I hated hot weather. Hot weather defined as anything above 75 in the summer and above about 38 in the winter. I've had to adapt after coming to the somewhat semi-tropical climate of Tokyo. (Tokyo is at 35 latitude, the same as Memphis, Tennessee.)

I adapted thanks to a lot of road biking in extreme heat, poor and very expensive air-conditioning, and occasional experiences in a fully packed train with a broken AC. It doesn't bother me as much as now long as I am not wearing a tie.

The late spring weather in Tokyo is usually very pleasant. It won't last long as rainy season will soon be upon us and then after that, the real heat and humidity sets in.

Japanese women tend to be very sensitive about tanned skin and UV damage. The whiter the skin the better it seems. And we certainly don't want any wrinkles or freckles.

You know summer is here when you see women running around with sun umbrellas

In the middle of the world's largest city

There are some who are lucky enough to have their own little oasis. I often walk by this old Japanese-style house which is hidden away on a side street in Denenchofu. I keep hoping to see someone sitting there enjoying the last of the afternoon sun, but never do. Wonder if they'd mind if I did?

Sunday Sanpo

On a warm late-spring Sunday afternoon with nothing to do, it's often productive to take a walk around the neighborhood---or neighborhoods in this case.

Okusawa

Jiyugaoka never ceases to be interesting to me:

And of course Sunday means no school,
but that doesn't stop soccer practice:

But even noisy, excited boys gotta go home:

There's always someone bringing up the rear:

And back in the usually dull Denenchofu,
there's a festival going on:

Although this year's seemed a lot smaller than last year's,
with fewer stands and smaller crowds, some folks still had plenty of fun: