Fireworks @Tamagawa River: Aug.23, 2014

Fireworks are traditional summer events in Japan. There are hundreds of firework shows held in the Greater Tokyo area every year.

I visited to see fireworks at Tamagawa River today. I watched the show in Nobotiro area, about five kilometers away from the launching places (Futago-Tamagawa district).

Thousands of people as well as dogs were gathering. They sat on the riverbank and enjoyed the event. Some of them were in traditional yukata costume and opened their food boxes.

Thousands of fireworks were launched. There were in various colors -- red, yellow orange, blue, green and white. All were beautiful.

Buildings of the cities sometimes showed their figures under the fireworks when they burst.

The wind was comfortable. The autumn insects were making noises in the grass in the river field.

Baltic states: Life and business (off off Tokyo): August 2-8, 2014

More than 20 years have passed after Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia became independent from the Soviet Union.

The societies and the lives of the people there have dramatically changed.

Estonia is known as "e-country" or one of most advanced nations in the world in the use of IT. I visited e-Estonia showroom, where the history, the current situation and the future policy on IT were displayed and well explained.

Lithuania and Latvia follow. I saw many free WiFi spots in the towns, including a place in front of Riga's cathedral (picture).

Some taxis offered free WiFi services.

“Eco” is another trend. Systems to use (share) public bicycles are introduced in Vilnius and Riga. The photo is taken in Vilnius.

Integration of society and economy goes on. 

Crossing the borders is their daily activities. 

I saw people and tourists waiting the buses at Riga Bus terminal for Tallinn (Estonia), Vilnius (Lithuania), Berlin (Germany), Minsk (Belarus), Moscow (Russia) and many other foreign cities (even in the Russia-west tension over Ukraine).






Of course, many people spend ordinary life.

People enjoyed beer in the open-air bars along the streets. They enjoyed summer's day in the park and other places, including Riga's canal side (left) and Tallinn's small open space on the shops (photo second from the top).

The huge market in Riga was crowded with local shoppers. The market was made using the materials taken from the mooting facility of Zeppelin, the famous airship developed in the early 20th century. 

People were selling ice creams, souvenirs and drawing pictures in the old towns as usual. The photo was taken in Vilnius. 


In countryside, they were making hay rolls for winter seasons (top photo). 

Some are changing rapidly and some are slowly.

Baltic states: History & Culture (off off Tokyo): Aug.2-8, 2014

I came to Baltic states, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, in summer vacation. I was expecting cool days before arriving here, but the weather was unexpectedly hot. 

I walked around the cities in a sweat. Nevertheless, the walking was excellent.

Each capital of three countries – Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn - has old town of medieval age in the center of the city. I walked along the cobbled streets.

Vilnius was a green rich. The old town was surrounded with woods.

Riga stands along the Dawgava River. It is now the largest city in the Baltic nations.

Tallinn's old town keeps the walls as well as many buildings (photo 2nd from the top).

The structures of the old towns are similar. 

They have market places in the center. City hall buildings guild houses and churches stand at the side of the market place. 









Both market places in Riga (above) and Tallinn (below) were beautiful. 













The cities are not only decorated with medieval history, but also with modern history.

Former prison of the Soviet regime in Vilnius is now a “Genocide museum”. The names of the victims are carved in the wall of the building.







There were many cells in the basement of the museum.

The barricade used in 1991 in the independence movement is reserved in the Parliament place in Vilnius.

A small flag of Ukraine was put on the barricade.

I visited “Sugihara Memorial” in Kaunas, Lithuania. The diplomat issued in 1940 transit visas for about 2000 Jewish families (who were under threat from Nazi) against the order of Japanese Empire government, and eventually saved 6000 lives.

The scene of the hill of crosses near Siauliai, northern Lithuania, was overwhelming (top picture). It has been a symbol of consolation for victims, pray, and resistance.

There are many Jugendstil or art neuveau buildings in Riga. 

Various carvings of human faces, animals and other interesting objects are on the walls.

I also found interesting sculptures in Riga. A sculpture of cat was on the roof of a house.

The object of the Musicians of Bremen was in front of St. Peter Church in the central old town.