Today it was so rainy I didn’t take my camera out. And yes I was out in it, all day, visiting sisters in my branch. This is a photo of my Kokeshi dolls:
Category: Seen around Tokyo (Page 9 of 11)
Fish kites are put out this time of year to celebrate boy’s day. These are on the apartment building next to mine. Shortly after moving here I remember seeing a mother, father and grandmother out on the terrace walking a screaming baby. It must have been a boy, hence the kites, and he must be about 3 years old by now.
During the past four years I have never spent very much time in Arisugawa Park in the spring. I have many photos of autumn in the park, but I am loving this spring with my new camera. Everyday I am amazed at how beautiful it is and by the fact it is right across the street in the middle of this huge, busy city.
A most unusual Tokyo mailbox
Kabukiza
Today was a fabulous day! I have been looking forward to it for a couple of months. Our friends Bret and Yukari invited us to go to a Kabuki performance with them. Yukari loves Kabuki and attends a performance about once a month. After today I think I could probably attend once a month, too.
My love of theater began as a child when my great aunt decided it was her responsibility to make sure my sister and I had cultural experiences. This included plays at the University of Utah, performances geared to children by the Utah Symphony and Ballet West. She was still giving me tickets to performances when I was in high school. While my friends were attending rock concerts, I was watching Man of La Mancha.
Anyway, back to Kabuki…Kabuki is a 400 year old art of dance and drama, famed for its elaborate costumes (the kimonos are fabulous) and all male cast. At the end of this month Kabukiza performers and longtime patrons will say goodbye to the legendary Kabukiza (theater). The current theater is 65 years old. It is being closed to make way for a modern replacement. A digital clock near the front entrance counts down the seconds until the final act. You can see that there are only 7 days left.
The Countdown
One of the main reasons for building a new theater is for safety. The current building would be dangerous in a major earthquake. We arrived for the performance a few minutes early and rented English earphone guides. This was vital in helping us understand the performance. Yukari explained that the performances this month are different than usual. We saw parts from 3 different plays.
The first part was over an hour long. It was the second half of one of the most famous Kabuki plays, Terakoya. It also happened to be the the first kabuki performance Yukari saw. She told us how she had cried when she saw it the first time and quickly bought a ticket so she could see the first part. She has been attending ever since. It was a beautiful, but tragic play. The second play was a bit lighter and was about three thieves, . The final performance was a dance.
During the first intermission we discussed the first play and during the second intermission Yukari and I went to an area where shops had been set up. She had wanted to purchase a particular sweet for her girls but the line was already long. We found a different stall selling sweets and I bought these:
I really love Japanese sweets. These are filled with anko (red bean paste). It’s one of my favorites and these were just so kawai (cute)!
Following the performance, we had dinner at a tempura restaurant nearby. It was a wonderful day with good friends. I hope to be able to go to Kabuki again. Although, Kabukiza will be torn down and it will take 3 years for the new theater to be completed, the performances will continue at a nearby venue. I hope to be able to see the first part of the first play we saw today. Wow! I didn’t know what I had been missing.
I have been watching the young girls of Tokyo and have noticed a strong trend towards small floral prints this spring. Here is a shop window display of what I have been seeing.
A few years ago, during a Relief Society meeting, we were asked what our favorite spot in Tokyo is. I thought of many places I like to visit and was surprised when my friend Dori said her’s was Arisugawa Park. She lived as near to the park as I do. At the time, I was surprised because I hadn’t really come to love and appreciate the amazingness of this park that is my front yard. Since then, I have watched it through many seasons and have truly come to love walking there on my way home from the store or on days like today sitting and taking everything in.
Arisugawa Ike
Taking a Break
Wipeout
Chizu (cheese)
Play nicely
Whee
Walking the dog
Ice Cream
I didn’t think I knew these girls when I took the picture. I saw them later and realized it was my sweet friend Jess and she introduced me to her best friend Rita.
My favorite tree and...
...it's new little Gingko leaves
So if you ask me now I will reply, “Arisugawa Park is my favorite place in Tokyo!”
Most of the time we lived in Texas we would make a pilgrimage to Utah to visit family every one or two years. Sometimes we would fly, but most of the time we made the 24+ hour drive. I remember using jet lag as an excuse for cranky kids or being tired. Good grief!!! It was a one hour time difference!!!!!
I returned to Tokyo last Thursday night. That night I took Tylenol PM and slept all night. Friday, I couldn’t fall asleep until 3 am and got up around 7am. Saturday I went to bed early and slept for 9 hours. Yesterday I was exhausted at 8pm and went to bed waking up at 2:30am. I had most of the laundry finished and the house cleaned before 5am. Now if I can just stay awake until about 9pm tonight I should be okay. If not I may make an appointment at this place I discovered on my 6am bike ride this morning.
Often in Tokyo, beautiful things catch me by surprise. There is a building near my house that houses some statistical something or other and it is not very attractive, but out in front is the most beautiful tree in full bloom.
When I left Tokyo the weather was warm and signs of spring were everywhere. I took photos in Aoyama Cemetery on the day I left for Texas. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Today, spring is even more evident, but it is so cold.
