Anti-nuclear demo @ Yoyogi Park: July 16, 2012

It was March 11 of 2011 when Fukushima nuclear disaster occurred. Japan stopped the operation of all 50 nuclear reactors after the disaster. 

Then, the government decided to restart nuclear plants in June 2012. The operation began again at Kansai Electric Power’s Ohi nuclear station in Ishikawa Prefecture on July 1st.

Opinions still divide widely between pro- and anti- nuclear groups.


A large anti-nuclear demonstration was held in Tokyo today.

Thousands of people joined the march. Men, women, young people, old people and children were included. Many of them were from Fukushima, Osaka and many other regions outside Tokyo.

It was the largest anti-nuclear demonstration ever held in Tokyo. The organizers announced about 175 thousands peopled joined the event. (The police announced it was about 75 thousands).

“We do not need nuclear generation”, “We oppose to the restart of Ohi plant” and other slogans were heard everywhere.

Politics were also seen. Civil servant unions as well as Social Democrat Party were highly visible among the participants. NGO groups were not so vivid. "Keep Article 9 of Japanese Constitution" was also found in signboards.

It is true that anti-nuclear feeling is widely shared among Japanese people. It is also true that people want to use enough electricity.


Discussions were often held in the TV and other occasions. Most of them were unfortunately not so constructive enough.

Various aspects are found in anf behind nulcear issue.

Ocean’s day @ Odaiba: July 16, 2012

Today is Ocean’s day. So, I visited Odaiba in Tokyo’s Bay area.

It was a hot summer day. The sky was blue so was the sea.


I dropped in Museum of Maritime Science. Soya, an old Antarctic search ship was tied up there. The ship was used half century ago.

I also visited a huge shopping and amusement center and Toyota Motor’s exhibition center. Various eco-friendly card were displayed. Chinese and many foreign tourists were there

Morning Glory market@ Iriya: July 8, 2012

Tokyo has many flower market events. A morning glory market at Iriya, near Ueno, is one of the most famous ones (along with Asakusa’s Hozuki or Japanese lantern market).

The market started in Shingenji temple or Kishimojin in the Edo era. It developed in the Meiji era.

About 60 stalls were open in the street in front of the temple. Thousands of people were in the street.

Market was also open in the temple’s garden.


It is still rainy season and we had a heavy rain in the morning. I visited the market in the afternoon, so the flowers had already withered.

New flowers will be open tomorrow morning. We can expect the flowers throughout summer and until autumn.

Komazawa Olympic Park: June 30, 2012

Today was a hot summer day. The temperature went up to 28 degree.

I visited Komazawa Olympic Park in Setagaya ward. There are sports fields, gymnasiums, swimming pool and other sports facilities in the park.

Tokyo held the 18th summer Olympics in 1964. Some games -- volleyball, Wrestling, succor and hockey – were played here.

Tokyo planned to hold the 12th Olympics in 1940 (it was cancelled because of the World War 2). Komazawa was planned to be the main stadium.


There were many people enjoying their summer times. A cycling school was held for children. Old people were enjoying gate ball. Joggers and cyclists were everywhere.

Tokyo has experienced big changes with historical events. They included The Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, bombing of Tokyo in 1945, the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 and the Bubble economy in the 1980s.


Nearly half century has passed after the Tokyo Olympics.