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

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:

Tamayakers

What th' hell?

As I have observed ad nauseum, there ain't a lot of nature---nature by US, Canada, Australian, and other Western countries standards*---in Tokyo, but there are still places where one can experience the outdoors. Sometimes it takes a little imagination, and you may have to ignore some inconvenient realities, but that shouldn't stop anyone.

On Thursday, I went down to the river and found a group of college-age kayakers, whom I'd guess belong to a kayak "circle" at their university. These sorts of clubs/circles are one of the most important parts of university life in Japan since it's said to be more about learning relationships and positions in society than actually studying academic subjects. I've friends who consider their university years as a four-year vacation. Folks need some time off after years of memorizing for the entrance exams for college.

Goth girls kayak too.

Heading toward the river for well-organized pre-kayaking stretching and running.

Don't tell anyone, but the girl was going faster with less apparent effort...

In the direction of Kawasaki.

*Japanese seem to tolerate and accept a lot more direct human involvement in nature and alteration of nature for improved aesthetics than Americans (US & Canada) and perhaps other westerners do. This is not only my observation, but something I have read or deduced from several sources.

Opposites attract

Small things fascinate small minds, but I find these nets which are placed over garbage and recyclables to be quite attractive. If nothing else, I learned that some fellow with the last name of Honda, at one time at least, loved a girl name Erika.

Jiyugaoka Spring

If April showers bring May flowers, we'll be in luck this year since it seems to rain about every day.














Jiyugaoka, a lively little part of Tokyo. Lots of restaurants, small shops, pubs, bars, pachinko parlors, and izakaya(s). A nice place to visit on a dreary, rainy day. Might want to do so early before the crowds and cars arrives as there are few sidewalks, delivery trucks and vans are parked all over the place, and pedestrians must share the road with cars.























Bad weather doesn't stop doesn't stop the mail here.

Sakura

The cherry blossom season this year seems to be a bit longer than usual, perhaps due the the cooler, rainier weather. More time for parties, I guess. In the past, I had considered getting half (or completely) plastered under under cherry blossoms as a waste of time. I am no longer of that opinion.

This was on a cool, rainy, weekday in Denenchofu next to a "kindergarten" across the street from the Denenchofu Private Junior High School for Girls. There was no drinking or partying then, just folks hurrying back to work, or to the grocery store, or picking up their kids from school.

One woman wrote to me that to her, sakura means the start of a new school year. Probably so in Japan as school has just begun.

(Something is actually sharp somewhere in the photo, I think.)

April in Tochigi

From Nyohosan



The town of Nikko down below

Spring monochrome

Like most places in central Honshuu above about 1000 meters, Nyohosan is still in natural monochrome in the spring. No cherry blossoms here. These were taken 24 April and it will be several weeks before much green returns.

Not yet halfway up

but finally solitude---something not easy to come by so close to Tokyo. Nyohosan in Nikko Japan. Not one of the top 100 mountains to climb in Japan and thus fewer people normally around compared to more popular hill like nearby Nantaisan. That's why I chose it and this route. The first time, I did not encounter a single person. This time, only one and he was listening to a squirrel bark. I did find pheasant (unexpected in this area), and plenty of deer sign. I saw no bear tracks or droppings---never have around here, but I noticed the guy I met was wearing a bear bell.



Not a well-marked trail, either. Good.

Jiyugaoka rain

Warm evening on the Tamagawa (River)

Rocky top

Big Sky Country, Japan

Returned to Utsukushigahara in Nagano last week. Still freezing or below at dawn. Winds were about 50mph in the morning. It was hard to stand up and my camera and tripod would easily have been blown away if I let go. This was taken Saturday night, just before an unusually unspectacular sunset.

Okusawa, Tokyo. Vacant lot

Young leaves

Showing a little pink

In case of fire

Sakura fate

All gone now in Tokyo

Denenchofu Sakura

One of the streets for the station is lined with cherry trees. Of course these "cherry" trees do not bear fruit.

Still waiting for Sakura

but there are other signs of spring in Tokyo