Jan 19th 2007 : Lunch Time Concert --- Minato-ku

*Please click photo for larger image
There is “San-nen Slope” in the end of the way if you walk around 50m after turning left at the corner of our office.
Going down the steep steps turning right and preceded along the way. I looked back and realized that a Tokyo Tower was visible far away behind the Reiyu-kai temple’s roof.


It’s a place where the Lunch Time Concert held every Friday.( As I mentioned in Jan12th entry)

<- Photo left is not enlarge.



I had a good time listening to a harmony of er-hu (Chinese violin) and accordion.
Program were “When you wish upon a star”, “Nada-sou-sou”,” Hymne à l'amour.”,”Boyhood/ Yosui Inoue”
I arrived too late that I only could listen the last song!
I look forward going next time.

This is “TV Tokyo” broad cast building next to Shiroyama Trust Tower.
There was a huge poster of Aya Ueto who will play the main cast of “Li Xiānglán” a famous singer in old days.
But at this entrance, it is prohibited to taking photos so I this is the last photo I took in this walking course.

Map of today’s walking course. From Iikura intersection to Shiroyama Trust Court.

Jan 14th 2007: Ancient Tombs in Tamagawa-dai--- Ota-ku

It was so beautiful day that I went further away for my walking tour..
I walked about 15min from Yukigatani St., Tokyu Ikegami Line to Tamagawa riverbank.
I kept walking toward ancient tombs of Tamagawa.


* *Please click photo for larger image

I climbed one of them call “Kamenokoyama-Kofun” (Tomb).
It was typical Japanese ancient tomb style, half round, half square shape.
I learned that they have 8 tombs including this famous “Houraiyama-Kofun”.
Their last 8th tomb was facing to their first tomb, “Kamenokoyama-Kofun”

I was quite impressed by their history.

Info)
Kamenokoyama-Kofun : 107m long / Built mid 4th century.
Houraiyama-Kofun : 97.5m long / Built in 4th century.

They are representative tomb for Tokyo same as the one called Maruyama-Kofun.
I was surprised to see these ancient tomb kept for citizen’s recreation space.

Jan 13th 2007: ”Ship of Sun” in Tokyo Dome--- Bunkyo-ku

I went to a show “Ship of Sun” produced by famous designer Kansai Yamamoto.
It was a sparkish show.
My camera was kept away from me at the gate so photos taken were limited.

<- Photo left is their staff wearing nice Happi
(Japanese gown) uniform.

We just wanted to take photo at least with Mr. Kansai in a poster. (The model is our president)

It was a show with a huge screen showing computer graphics moving together with the sound. It was beautiful and sort of show I never seen it. The CG art was made by Mr. Yoichiro Kawaguchi ( a professor of Tokyo University) He was saying that he is a good friend of Mr. Kansai and he made this only for this show.
We impressed by their dynamic program played by hundreds of staff and I was given a power from Mr. Kansai.


<- Photo left is a night light taken in front of Tokyo Dome.

Jan 12th 2007: Around Shiroyama Garden--- Minato-ku

I walked around Shiroyama Garden today.
1.
I walked toward Hotel Okura seeing the embassy of Sweden on my right hand side…
2.
There is a Annex of Senoku-haku-kokan on the opposite side, a museum of collection which Sumitomo family collected.
Entrance fee is 500yen for adult. Now they are featuring a collection of Nabeshima Family.

3.
I turned right at the embassy of Sweden and went to Shiroyama Garden.
There were many office worker as this placed is surrounded by many offices.

4.
The end of the path is the Shiroyama Garden.
Shiroyama town is located at top of the hill where daimyo’s mansion were lining on the street in Edo era.
Shiroyama Garden opened in 1991 with offices, residents, embassy and TV broad casting studio combined in one building.
They have a fan-like form steps in its entrance hall and a fountain and a monument was placed inside.

5.
There are 2 big gingko trees on both sides of the pave way in front of the entrance.
Especially right one was so big.
No wonder these are designated as protected trees of Minato-ku.


A place called “Shiroyama Trust Tower” next to Shiroyama Garden has a Lunch Time Concert every Friday in their entrance hall. It is free of charge and time from 12:10 to 13:00.
Today I was just on time and could hear all of their program.. but oh no! the battery ran out!! I couldn’t take photos !

I’ll try next time!

Jan 7th 2007: Kite flying at river bed--- Oota-ku

It was beautiful day compare to yesterday weather. I enjoyed walking from Rokugou River Bed to Shimomaruko.

I met a man doing Kite flying at Tamagawa River Bed.
He said he has competition the next day and having practicing.
I was waiting it to be brought up in the air but while I was there, there was no wind at all so I couldn’t see it flying… What a shame!