Blogs from Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, Asia - page 2

20 hours later, I finally made it to the Royal Park Hotel in Tokyo. The 12.5 hour plane ride was pretty rough as I sat in the middle seat of the middle row between my friend and this spawn Satan of a child that couldn't sit still, kicked and punched everything that moved. No wonder her mother was nowhere to be found, she probably was like "Allison, you sit right here, but Mommy is in First Class cabin if you need me." It was about 11:30PM after getting out of the airport and we still had about a 30 minute train ride to get to the hotel. First thing that I noticed about Japan is how clean it is. There is absolutely zero trash on the streets, no overfilled trash cans, let alone gum stains on ... read more

In these photos, I start on the East side of the Imperial Palace East Gardens on my walk to Yushukan. I found some things to photograph on the way which also included the Yasukuni shrine. I haven't posted any photos from within Yushukan as I took very few.... read more

This was one of those places that was simply under my radar. Had it been on my radar, I would have recognized that to tour the Imperial Palaceitself, you need to express an interest at least two weeks prior and be approved. So, I didn't get that done, but will have to reserve a visit there for my next trip to Japan. I got some idea of its importance by simply seeing the breadth and depth of its Moats and Moat Walls. Its really quite the achievement. Along those lines, I fully expect to be blown away when I finally see the Great Wall of China for myself. In the last three photos, I came back the next day on my walk to the Yushukan museum to specifically feed the Koi that were congregating near the ... read more

Kabuki (歌舞伎) is the best-known traditional theatre of Japan, with all male casts. Stories are traditional musical dramas with distinctive music, elaborate costumes and makeup, black clothed puppeteers who make magic swords fly and actors who specialize in female roles. Noh (能楽) is an older style of theatre, also with all male musicians and actors, highly stylized masks, elaborate costumes, and trancelike movements and music. Takarazuka Revue (宝塚歌劇団) is an all female theatre began 100 years ago to boost sales of train tickets to a small resort town near Osaka. The first Takarazuka season of 2014 in Tokyo proved to be sold out. To get tickets required three visits to the box office, including a 9am start with a one-hour wait in the queue. The ticket office carefully monitored the queue for the 90 ‘on the ... read more

Baseball and soccer are popular sports in Japan. Every high school oval rings to the sound of teams practicing, and students dream of becoming famous players. Sumo no longer holds great attraction for students. It is the sport of their grandparents. Most wrestlers are now foreigners. However, Sumo remains the traditional sport associated with Japan. Every year, a season of Sumo is held in Japan in several rounds. The competions are broadcast on television every night for 15 days. News broadcasts include the daily highlights, advertising sponsorship supplements the prize money and the rikishi (sumo wrestlers) hold celebrity status. Tokyo sumo competitions are held in a purpose built hall, with a suspended straw roof, and a raised sand platform. Judges and attendants wear elaborate traditional costumes, and there is symbolic meaning in all objects and actions. ... read more