Japan - Tokyo, Part 3

The Samuri's Samuri

1294-1336

Kusunoki Masashige fought for the loyalist cause of Emperor Go-Haigo against the Kamakura shogunate.  Admired for his devotion and unswerving loyalty, he raised an army he believed was doomed to defeat.  After fighting overwhelming forces for many hours of battle, he and the surviving loyalists committed honorable suicide.  This steadfast warrior was revered as the epitome of bravery and courage by the W.W.ll kamikaze pilots who saw themselves as his spiritual heirs, sacrificing their lives for the Emperor.  His statue is placed on the grounds of the Imperial Palace, still protecting an Emperor today.

Emperor Akihito and his family live in the Imperial Palace in the center of Tokyo.  Although the Emperor occupies Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne, it is a constitutional monarchy. 

Emperor Akihito is the great grandson of Emperor Meiji, the most famous Japanese Emperor who began the transition from the feudal shogunate to an Imperial Monarchy.  We will be going to his shrine next.  (Remember that double clicking will give you a screen size image).

All editorial and photographic rights reserved by Arizona Skies.

Imperial Palace, Tokyo, April 9, 2010

Japan - Tokyo, Part 2

On the floors below the observation deck of Roppongi Tower in the previous post lies a wonderful little modern art gallery that has some very intriguing pieces.  I made sure to allow time for a stroll through the rooms. 

The plaque on the wall described the scene before me, a film of this lady who exudes happiness and tranquility.  As she spoke and laughed, she shooed a chicken or two out of the way or moved a basket or pot so there would be room in the tiny space to gather.  The film played continually and covered a space easily 20' square.

This piece, also a film, was of various sizes of wine glasses being stroked to produce different tones.  All four walls were covered with these moving images, so that the effect was one of actually walking through music.  It was mesmerizing.

My favorite pieces were the shopping bags.  The image on the front of the bag was cut in such a way that the shape and color suggested a tree in different seasons.  The hole in the top results from standing the cut paper tree on the bottom of the bag, yet a tiny piece still connects it to the top.  The one below is late fall.

The following tree, in two views, represents spring.

Shooting through Lucite without generating a glare is so difficult, so this last image of a tree in summer is from the Mori Art Museum brochure to give you better idea.  Can you see where the bag originated?

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It's a McDonald's Happy Meal Bag!  How cool is that!!!!

Now for some shopping in the Ginza.  Hold on to your credit cards, there are some incredible stores here.  And high on my list is window shopping, just because the merchandising is so fabulous.  Take a look.

I'm on my way to Mikimoto Pearls.  My thinking was to get just one pearl in a golden oyster for my charm bracelet.  Well, it didn't work out that way.  The first thing I saw was a necklace like this in the window. 

About $378K, U.S.  To die for.  The bottom pearls are as large as acorns.  The next thing I noticed was the reception desk.  Got that?  Reception desk.

As I was taking this in, one of my traveling companions pointed to a black Mercedes limo, with a white gloved chauffeur at the wheel pulling up at the curb.  Immediately, two beautifully dressed sales associates came out to greet the older lady and escorted her into the store.

Listen honey, I felt like Daisy Mae at the White House.  I rethought the pearl charm idea.

                        

This is the most famous intersection in the Ginza, called the Scramble.  Cars stop in all directions and then this happens.  2000 people cross in one mad "scramble" in one 40 second light change.  This picture came from the public domain.  I was sure I'd be trampled to death if I took my eyes off my destination just to snap a photo.

This is Japan's most famous department store and it does have every top designer of clothing, shoes, bags and perfumes represented here.  You could easily dress a woman from head to toe and drop $10K.  Really.  The windows give you a taste of what's inside.

Pricey....Pucci.

Isn't this a great way to merchandise perfume!

Hold on.  The real fun in below stairs, in the "sub floors".  That's uppity for basement.  And, that's were the food is sold.

I just don't know.  Could be a veggie or a fish.

Sushi doesn't get fresher than this tuna.  That doesn't mean I'm going to eat it.  His head is below.

Fast food, Mitsukoshi style.  Yummy.

This wonderful post card image is of the clock tower on the main intersection of the Ginza.  The lights of the neon signs make it seem like daylight.  It's such a high energy place, well worth the visit.  All you need is money!

Japan - Tokyo, Part 1

Tokyo is one of 47 prefectures in Japan, the divisions which are the overarching governing structure.  Although not technically a city, Tokyo administers 23 city wards, 26 separate cities, 39 municipalities, 5 towns and 8 villages with a contiguous population of 35 million, the most populous metropolis in the world.  It is one of three world economic centers, the other two being London and New York.  The topography is 20% reclaimed land around Tokyo Bay and beyond, with the people living in 850 square miles of densely inhabited high rises and homes.  It is beyond imagination.  Tokyo is an "alpha" city.

Earthquakes are common, but in two weeks we didn't feel any.  Hotels rooms are equipped with flashlights and the rating that the building can withstand.  Ours was 9.5.  Trains are essential to navigating this city.  Consider that an express took nearly an hour to get from Shinagawa Station to Narita International Airport.  Don't overlook the Japan Rail Pass.  Distances around shrines and temples are considerable.  Getting from the train station to the hotel was quite a hike.  I found that I was walking 2/3 of the day.  Crowds are part of the landscape, but it is manageable.  All hotels have a little card with their address in Japanese.  Present this to a taxi driver if you get lost and you have a way home.  There are cards for all tourist locations, so just show it to the driver and you are on your way.  I keyed in international dialing on my Verizon phone before I left so that I could communicate with my group if I got separated.  It's always roaming, about $2.00 a minute.  The Japanese are always on a cell phone texting.  The current fad is a little "Hello Kitty" or charm hanging from it.

Tokyo tower is the red metal structure with Rainbow Bridge and the beginings of Tokyo harbor in the far horizon.  The Imperial Palace and the government's Diet Building is to the left of the large green tower in the upper left.  The famous Ginza shopping area is to the right of this building about 6 blocks.  I'm standing at an observation deck on the 54th floor of Roppongi Hills Tower where a small 2 bedroom apartment starts at $1.5 million. 

Another view of the tower with Rainbow Bridge in the far distance.  The city extends far, far beyond the bridge on the other side.  Tokyo Disney Resort is slightly behind and to the right of Tokyo Tower.  There is no such thing as a slow day at Disney.  Waits for rides can top three hours.  I am standing in one place for most of these shots, pivoting around the building in the lower right with the green tower on top.

I have now moved from an easterly direction and am looking due south.  In the middle of the picture is a tower designed by the same architect who designed Roppongi Hills.  The next towers behind it contain the Prince Hotel where we stayed and Shinagawa Train Station next door.  For an island country, I was surprised at how hazy it was, but then China is next door.  It was overcast most of the time and rained a few days, but even that was an interesting experience. 

This close up of the Moto-azabu Hills Tower shows what an interesting shape it has.  Also notice how densely packed these buildings are.  My next shot was to be due west but a group of school children were occupying that space.  Had it been a clear day, I would have been able to distinguish the snow on Mt. Fuji.  The fact that 35 million people live between an active volcano and the Pacific seems to me a significant fact. 

This view to the left of the tower above, shows how densely packed these buildings are.  There are many buildings just 20' wide with only 20" or so between the buildings on either side.  Auto parking lots are not in abundance.  Every inch is used.  

 

Aoyama Cemetary, looking northwest, contains the graves of many distinguished foreigners.

  They are buried here in appreciation of their help in modernizing Japan.  One example is Eduardo Cheassone who introduced the printing technology for money and stamps.  Just north of here is the Meiji Shrine which we will visit later.  Also are two national baseball stadiums and most of the government buildings.  Due north is considered midtown.

 

The cherry blossoms are so fleeting.  Like life, they last only a short time.   And so cherry trees are often found at cemeteries.  I always looked for meaning in the placement of things in Japan, whether it came from philosophy, religion, habit of history or imagination.  Nothing was just by chance.  There is design in nature and in living a life.  I think this is more obvious in such a homogeneous society where traditions live on from one generation to the next.

The Smiley Face Replacement

For information on current legislation and pending alternatives, google 2010 Prevention First Act.  This is a no brainer.

Let Your Little Light Shine Sundays - Street Artists - Part 2

I have had many delighted emails from all of you after the first part of this post.  This chalk art is amazing and great fun to try to see where the artists blended imagination and reality.  Enjoy this installment and hang on to your chairs.  You wouldn't want to fall over the edges here....

EEWWWW!

Don't fall, hang on!

I think these last two were taken with a fish eye lens.....I can hardly look!

If anyone sees one on the street, take pictures and share.  Just don't get too close.  You wouldn't want to lose your car.

Renee

Welcome Home, Renee

There are teachers that walk among us.  If we are very lucky, we will run into at least one in our lifetime.  Renee was one such teacher, a lady so gentle and unassuming, so wise and full of love, she wasn't even aware of her considerable gifts. 

Renee died yesterday.  She was surrounded by a family who cherished her.  And she will be forever remembered by a community of friends who grew to love her over the too few years she wrote and gathered us around.

She had IBC, a rare form of breast cancer, but she was an amazing fighter and determined to educate anyone who would listen about this silent stalker.  We watched her fight and learned about cancers and treatments and witnessed her joys and anquish as they occured.  Her courage took my breath away.  This was a public dying, an unselfish cautionary tale meant to warn and inform.   But that is not what happened.

This lesson was about living.  Renee could laugh and cry and be furious at the top of her lungs and we were right there beside her.  She introduced us to her loving family, who became our family as well.  She shared her friends, her fears and irritations and told us hilarious stories about her life.  And we shared ours with her and each other.  Before long, we were a village.  We are now and forevermore, a worldwide family from a planet without borders and our ties are strong. 

Renee said she had to learn to live with birds circling her head.  But those birds were eagles.  And now she flies with them to where stars are born.  She was always golden stardust and now she is home.  Soar free, my dearest friend.  I will hold you in my heart forever.

xoxo right back at you