Shizuoka’s wood exhibition @ Shinjuku: Feb. 11, 2016

Tokyo holds many events and exhibitions and I enjoy visiting them. Today, I called at an exhibition of wood products produced in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is famous for Mt. Fuji and locates 100-200 kilometers west of Tokyo.

Japan is a wood-rich country (about two thirds of the land is covered with forests), but it imports about 70% of total wood consumed. Recently, the local producers have begun to promote their products.

They emphasize that the quality of Japanese wood is high and  it has “the sense of warmth” in promoting the products; they did so in the exhibition.

Timbers as well as wooded products such as interior materials and floor materials are displayed. The staff explained the difference of quality with the imported ones.

A small cottage, a playground slide and several toys were placed in the kid space. The space was organized by a company which offers children and adults the opportunities to join various activities, such as camping and wood cutting, in the forests in Shizuoka.

There is a trend to use more wood (rather than concrete or other artificial materials) for interior materials in various buildings. The public gymnasium at Kusanagi in Shizuoka Prefecture is one example. It uses wood produced in the area. A big picture of the gym was displayed.

The future possibility was shown at another corner. Reduced-size models of multistory wooden buildings were displayed by a group of architects. It is now technically possible to build a wooden building of five stories or higher. Some experimental houses and buildings are being built in Tokyo and other places.

There were several specialists in the site; they asked questions to the staff.

The tea corner was also made by the local products.

The exhibition was organized by Shizuoka Prefecture in cooperation with the local industry associations and the companies. It is a part of moves to revitalize local economy.

Many efforts are made by local people for the purpose. Some ideas are remarkable. It is interesting to visit events and exhibitions and to find new ideas.

Winter trees & Ume Blossom; February 7, 2016

It is the coldest season of the year in Tokyo. The temperature sometimes goes down under zero, and people wear heavy overcoats. However, the daytime is getting longer.

Today was a fine day and I had a walk around Setagaya ward, western Tokyo.

I saw tulip trees,　ginkgo trees and other deciduous trees stood along the walk paths and in the park. The sky was very blue behind the trees.
(see also the second photo from the top).

The Ume or Japanese apricot flowers began to blossom in the Hanegi Park.
(See also the top photo)

They were in some temples and shrines, too.

I found a cat and parrots enjoying the sunlight.

It was a nice walk.

Sanriku Food Fair@ Shimokitazawa: Feb. 7, 2016

We will soon have the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11.

They held an event in Shimokitazawa, Setagaya ward, to sell the foods of Sanriku coastal areas. The areas are in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures and were seriously hit by the tsunami disasters in 2011.

The areas included Rikuzentakata City, Ofunato City and neighboring areas. I visited there last October and November. There experiences there were so impressive. 

Please visit: 
Four and half years from the quake:Sanriku, Iwate; Oct. 31-Nov.1, 2015
Autumn Scenes @ Iwate Prefecture: Oct 31- Nov. 1, 2015

Oysters, noodle, and other local products were served. I remembered my travel, the scene of the region and the day of the earthquake and tsunami.