Godzilla @ Shinjuku; April 18, 2015

It was about a week ago when Godzilla appeared in Shinjuku. I went there to see it today.

The Godzilla head is placed at about 50 meter high on a building of Toho, a cinema company that produces Godzilla movies. As Godzilla’s height is estimated about 50 meters, it is “real”.

It was at the center of Shinjuku Kabukicho. Toho’s old “Koma” theater was closed in 2008 and a new cinema-shopping complex was built. The operation started on April 16.

Huge Hotel Gracery with more than 1000 rooms was also built and will open in a few days. The Godzilla head will be seen close from some rooms.

There are many visitors, including foreign tourists, in the area. Many of them enjoyed taking pictures of Godzilla.

Kabukicho is one of the busiest and most controversial amusement spots in Tokyo. 

Shops with variety of economical goods and interesting souvenir attracts foreign visitors. 

It is also true that sex shop and other morally questionable industries prevail. Crimes and troubles are often reported.

The situation is better than years ago, when the conflicts of mobsters were often reported. Japan, not China, was the economic giant Asia at the time and Kabukicho was said to be the biggest entertainment area in Asia.

Policemen were walking around the area and the announcements, which call for the attention of visitors not to listen to the soft words of pullers-in, were made.

Spring flowers and fresh green @ Baji Park; April 12, 2015

The season of most popular cherry (somei yoshino with light pink flowers) is already over. Now, we have other spring flowers.

I visited Baji Park in Setagaya today to enjoy the spring afternoon. The blossom of yaezakira, a cherry with stronger pink flowers, was its peak. Many families were reluxing.

I saw a group of Asian people enjoying a picnic under cherry trees. The event is more and more internationalized.

Tulip, pansy and other spring flowers were also open.

Fresh green was growing on the trees. The day is becoming brighter.

Cherry Carpet @ Gotokuji Temple: April 5, 2015

The cherry blossom days are finishing. The flower started to fall silently.

I visited Gotokuji Temple in Setagaya Ward and found the ground covered with pink cherry flowers.

Flesh-green leaves appeared in many trees.

The season is turning from early spring to mid-spring.

High-school baseball @ Koshien (off Tokyo): March 29, 2015

I went to Koshien baseball stadium in Nishinomiya, near Osaka, to see a high-school baseball game and shout out for my old school. 

It was a quarterfinal game of the Spring National Baseball Tournament (official name is “The National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament”, which nobody knows) or “Senbatsu” tournament.

It was my first visit to the stadium in 41 years. The last visit was to see the Summer National Tournament. 

I found that the facilities as well as the mood of the stadium had changed a lot.

It was rainy. We watched the game in rain coats or with umbrellas. The game stopped when the rain was heavy. Ground keepers worked hard to restart the game.

There were part-time students selling beer. The sales was … terrible.

The fortune was not upon us. However, my juniors played a good game. I hope today’s game would become a good step towards summer tournament.

I had a good time. Thanks, my high school juniors.