Sakura Saku

Cherry blossoms are very beautiful now in Tokyo. I walked around my flat and found these trees in a small park. I havn’t gone to ‘hanami’ picnic this year. I want to go to Akasaka Sakasu which is the newest site of Tokyo because there are a lot of cherry blossoms and I heard that one of them is from Miharu, Fukushima prifecture.

I lived in Fukushima city until 2 years ago. I went to see the famous cherry blossoms of Miharu once then with my parents.

Tokyo Underworld

There is the labyrinth in the underworld of Tokyo. Rober Whiting wrote ‘Tokyo Underworld’ which is a story of Yakuza. The underworld which I will tell you isn’t such a dark story but the real Tokyo Underworld.

A new underground passage under Yurakucho station was opened recently, so you can walk from the Otemachi metro station to the Higashi Ginza station by way of Tokyo station without going to the ground or outside. About 2.5 km.

Let’s try to walk the route if you come to Tokyo, although there is any sigh or a kind of guide.

The route from Otemachi to Higashi Ginza was connected by chance, not because of a city plan. So it’s a pity that there is no sign on the wall or somewhere.The way is twisty and complex and a few people knows. I don’t think you can find on any guide book about Japan.

I don’t find an English map so it may be difficult to see. Otemachi is the green point on the map and Higashi Ginza is red or orange. And the large green area is the imperial palace.

Walking along the route, you cannot see a lot of building around Tokyo station. However it is a kind of exploration of the city!

(Tokyo station)

I tell you a sort of hint of the exploration. you may try to find ‘Tokyo international forum’ and ‘Tokyo Kotsukaikan(東京交通会館)’ after you pass the Tokyo station. I mean you have to walk through the basement of the two buildings.

Michelin Tokyo edition

The list of the Tokyo edition of Michelin was opened today and the book will sell next Thursday.

TOKYO (AFP) – France’s Michelin guide launched its highly anticipated Tokyo edition Monday, for the first time awarding stars to every restaurant as it hailed the quality of the city’s cuisine.It is the first edition outside of the Western world for the renowned red book, which can make or break restaurants in Europe and had been awaited with trepidation by many in Japan’s restaurant industry.The Tokyo edition awarded a record 191 stars for the 150 restaurants it listed. It is nearly double the 97 stars given to restaurants in Paris and more than triple the 54 it issued for New York.

When I walked around the Tokyo station this evening, I happened on the Michelin event in the Tokyo International Forum.

Eight restaurants, five serving Japanese cuisine and three French, were given the coveted three-star rating, which Michelin defines as “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey,” and means a massive boost in business and profile for the chef. (Reuters)

I have never been to any three stars restaurants….but I ate unagi at the branch of one star restaurant ‘chikuyo-tei’ (竹葉亭). It tastes very good and is expensive, you know.

the origin of Japanese manga

I visited the Suntory museum in Roppongi, Tokyo to see the special exhibition of the old picture scrolls ‘Choju Giga (鳥獣戯画)’. Choju Giga which is a national treasure is said to be the first Japanese manga and to have been drawn in the 12th or 13th century. Toba sojo, a Buddhist monk, is thought to be the author of the scrolls but that is uncertain.

(wiki commons)

A lot of animals like a monkey, rabbit, fox or frog behave facetiously as if they were human being. Although there are some scenes in the scrolls, what kind of story Choju Giga tells wasn’t yet understood. Anyway, you can imagine your own story when you see the scrolls.

When I traveled in Italy last month, I visited some museum and was impressed. Hoever I thought I havn’t visited Japanese museum in Japan as often as overseas and go to some museum around Tokyo when I sit in the seat of Lufthanza airplane. Then I found the post of the exhibition at the subway station when I went home from my company.

Choju Giga is very famous here but I have never seen the real ones. It is nicer than a printed picture on a book or school textbook.

Tokyo Tower Midnight

Tokyo. At 2 a.m.

Tokyo Tower lights up the city that never sleep.