Fun with Soap Bubbles...

We didn't know it when we got up, but the family had so much energy that we visited not one, but two parks in Tokyo. Hibiya Park near the Imperial Palace (or 皇居 kōkyo) and Arisugawanomiya Park in Minami Azabu.  The children's playgrounds in Hibiya Park and at Arisugawanomiya are not anything special; however, the family had a great day. Especially when my wife brought out the Soap Bubbles for the kids. (If you are wondering, I had to include the link to Wikipedia because it explains why soap bubbles have iridescent colors.)

Here are some of the more interesting ones, and as my policy, minus my kids of course.  If you look closely, my reflection is visible in these bubbles. 

Setagaya Cherry Trees

The family was at a friend's house in Setagaya earlier in June.  The cherry tree lined streets lost all their flowers several months ago, but still have plenty of charm (and shade from the summer heat).

BTW - One of the streets nearby was in featured in an earlier post with the blossoms just past their prime.

Banners in the Juban

The banners on the posts in Azabu Juban frequently change with the seasons. They all feature a little girl and a cat who are usually dressed up to go with the theme of the banner. The first in this post one was taken in 2010 and the banner commemorates setsubun.

The new year banner features the seven lucky gods.

In late February and early March the banners featured a stylized hina doll set.

The final one for this post doesn't seem to feature a holiday or season. It was taken the day after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.

Pirates of Odaiba?

About a week before the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the family went out to Odaiba to check out a Shiokaze Park. This park is located next to the Museum of Maritime Science and quite naturally featured a playground in the shape of a ship.

Perhaps even a pirate ship... Argh... There be pirates in these waters.... (BTW - That's my 5-year old daughter in the corner, caught in a pose that has a little resemblance to that recent fad... planking.

There's a fountain with a shallow stream that looks like it would be fun in the hot and sticky summer months.

We were lucky to have fine weather and a view of Mt. Fuji between all of the buildings and a large crane!

Ont the other side of the park there was a sculpture inspired by Georges Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.  I'm not sure who the artist is, but a little online search and it appears that this work is called... Sunday afternoon of the Sea Breeze Park Island. Anyway, at the time I was more interested in the Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge in the background.

Doraemon and Helly Kitty Castella?

Castella is a sweet cake imported to Japan from Portugal. It's very popular at festivals.  This stand which featured Doraemon and Hello Kitty was located outside Ueno Zoo in Ueno Park.  The man working the mold was lighting fast and used the batter dispenser with precision.

The castella vendor buttered the molds quickly with a brush and picked out any stuck Doraemon or Kitties with chopsticks.

Niagra Curry

Niagra Curry has nothing to do with Niagra Falls.  Well, I'm not sure because my Japanese isn't so good.  But the shop has curry and plenty of train memorabilia.  My kids love it, because the curry comes in Shinkansen shaped plates, is delivered by model train, and tastes delicious.  It located a short distance from Yutenji Station (東京都目黒区祐天寺2-1-5 高坂ビル). Anyway, here are a few pictures from inside the shop. 

This is the kids Shinkansen Curry Set.

This is the Katsu Curry Set.

Joy... Trying to think positive thoughts...

I've been under a lot of stress at the office recently, and just need to think happy thoughts....  Sometimes, you'll even find reminders in the most mundane of places.

Okonomiyaki shop logo

I walk by this okonomiyaki shop on the way to Roppongi Hills every once in a while. The logo that they have selected for their shop seems a little odd to me. Perhaps it supposed to be a spatula. But when I first saw it, I thought that it looked like a bomb or a toilet. What do you think?

Strange flower and new lens

I added a new lens (AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED) to my kit recently and was trying it out today at Yoyogi Park.

One of the interesting things that I shot, was this strange little flower.  I was able to take a photo of one with petals and one without.  I wonder what kind of flower this is...

BTW - I have started a blog more focused on photo technique and equipment called F2.0 Photography. The latest post there has more photos taken in Yoyogi Park with this exceptional lens.

Is this fashion?

I was in Roppongi Hills in April and saw this mannequin on display at the Addidas store, and thought that this track suit and shoes were utterly horrible. If anyone feels otherwise, please post a comment and explain to me why one would pay for and wear this outfit.

Tarō Okamoto

I've come across several public art pieces in Tokyo by Japanese artist Tarō Okamoto.  The first piece is located in Ginza and is called "Young Clock Tower".  The other piece is located near the Children's Castle in Harajuku and is called "Children's Tree".

Have you seen Asimo?

Last year the family visited National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) in Odaiba.  Miraikan has been closed since the 11 March 2011 earthquake, but is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, 11 June 11 at 10:00. 

 It's one of the great museums in the Tokyo area and has great hands on technology exhibits.  There are plenty of robots, computers and machines that you can interact with. 

One of the more interesting exhibits was a performance by Honda's fabulous ASIMO robot. It's amazing to think that the technology in this robot is already over 10-years old.

Shadow art / graffiti

When I lived in South Florida, there used to be an graffiti artist that painted or filled in the shadows of ordinary objects.  At first glance, you would see parking meters, bicycles and other everyday objects casting shadows at the wrong time of day.  Then you would realize that the shadow was painted in.  Sometimes, if the shadow was of a bike or other temporal / transient object, it would be long gone leaving only the shadow art as a memory.

Anyway, I walk by this veterinarian's office in Azabu Juban regularly.  Every time I walk by it brings back fond memories of Miami Beach...

Trains are so advanced...

The information panels on the JR Yamanote and other lines in Tokyo have gotten very advanced in the last few years.  It used to be that there would only be a sign board with a poster showing the stops and connections on the line you were on.  If you were lucky, there would be a lit sign indicating that the doors on this side or the other would open.  More advanced cars would have LED dot matrix sign boards that would change to show the upcoming station and display other important information.

The newest trains now have LCD sign boards that show all sort information about the train, upcoming stations, upcoming television shows and commercials.  Some of the information is even useful and offered in English. 

I understand that there is a delay, but I am a little confused about how a "car inspection" could cause one.