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. 

Belgium Beer Weekend @ Yokohama: July 6, 2014

I am a Belgium beer lover largely because I once lived there.

Today, I visited Belgium Beer Weekend held in Yokohama.

The event is held in several cities, including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai and Sapporo.　It is the second time that Yokohama hosts the event.

It was a nice day (although it is rainy season now. Good Luck!). Thousands of people were in the event site in Yamashita Park.

Families, group of friends, young people, old people and dogs were on the ground. Others were enjoying beer and Belgium foods at the tables.

Yamashita Park is at the side of the Yokohama Port. People enjoyed portside walks.

Various kinds of Belgium Beer were served. Concerts and other performances by Belgium artists were played.

A special beer glass was designed for the event. 

Belgium Beer is getting more and more popular in Japan. The “Weekend” is now an annual event in major cities. I sometimes visit it. (Please see "Belgium Beer Weekend @ Roppongi Hills": Sept. 9, 2011 )

Yokohama China Town is the largest and most famous china towns in Japan. It locates next to Yamashita Park. There are more than 200 Chinese restaurants in the area.

Some are nationwide famous high-end restaurants while others are casual take-out shops. There are new opens and closures of the restaurants every year. I can find something new whenever I visit there.

The streets were crowded with visitors as usual.

Second-hand bookstores in Kanda: June 19, 2014

Walking around second-hand bookstores in Kanda area is one of my funs. I was there again to visit a new shop.

“Book café 20^th Century” is the shop. It is a combination of a second-hand bookstore and a coffee shop. Arts, sports, novels and many other books are sold there. Visitors can comfortably enjoy coffee and reading books.

The shop is not the only example of the “new waves” taking place in the area. New services and businesses emerge almost every week there.

The change of Kanda’s second-hand bookstore district was reported in this blog on Nov. 3^rd, 2013, too. (Second-hand Book Fair @ Kanda)

I am sure that the change will be accelerated in the net revolution. Watching the changes is interesting and I will probably report my visit　again in the future.

Toranomon Hills: June 14, 2014

New Landmark of Tokyo opened three days ago (June 11). It is Toranomon Hills, a huge commercial-residential complex building built in Toranomon area, a few blocks west from Kasumigasaki government-office area.

The building is 52-story high. Andaz Tokyo Hotel occupies the upper floors whereas apartments are in the upper-middle floors and offices are in the lower-middle floors. Shops and restaurants are in the lower floors.

A cat-like character “Toranomon”, not Doraemon, welcomed me when I entered the building. There were many visitors there. 

People were relaxing in the garden around the building.

Children were running around in the playground and I found Tokyo Tower behind them.

Motorways run under the building. It is the first such building in Tokyo.　(the top picture)

Gardening Fair @ Baji Park: May 31, 2014

The season is turning to summer. The temperature went up over 30 degrees today.

I visited Baji Park (Equestrian Park). A small gardening event was held in the open space in front of the park.

The size is totally different, but it reminded me of the famous Chelsea Flower Show, which I visited (and enjoyed ) several years ago.

Various works of Japanese gardens were placed. A pole decorated with flowers stood. (top picture)

Children were running around. Families were relaxing.

The gardening is becoming more popular and the works are becoming more sophisticated in recent years　in Japan.

Japan Football Museum: May 24, 2014

The FIFA football World Cup games will begin on June 12 in Brazil. The football fans are going into the “festival season.”

I visited the Japan Football Museum in Bunkyo ward.

The pictures of the coach and the players were displayed on the wall of the building.

There were uniforms, trophies and many other goods in the museum. Historical scenes were run in the displays. I enjoyed them.

Let’s enjoy the world Cup!

Save Iwate @ Morioka, Sanriku Coast (off Tokyo): May 10-11, 2014

Lots of efforts have been made and are being made by NGOs, volunteers, private companies and the local governments to restore quake-hit communities and people’s life in Tohoku district. The process is, however, not fast enough. There will be a long way to go (See 3 years after the Quake article: May 10-11, 2014).



I visited the offices of “Save Iwate”, a NGO aiming to help people who had been hit by the disaster and to contribute to the recovery of the region. It was established just after the quake in March 2011 and is now active in various fields (see below).

Its head office is in Morioka, and it has branches in the Sanriku coastal areas, which were severely damaged by tsunami disaster.

>>Activities



Save Iwate's activities include:

* Management and delivery of aid materials (which are sent from many places in Japan) to local people.

* Fukko Zokin project: Save Iwate sends local people orders to make floor clothes. Floor clothes are collected and sold by Save Iwate. The project  provides job opportunities for local people, especially for elder women. 

The floor clothes along with other products were sold in a store in Morioka railway station.

* A project to make handcrafts and other products using aid materials such as old clothes: It is calles the "Rashinban Project". The products include wallet, accessory pouches, book covers and dolls. People can strengthen ties among the members while working together.

* Sanriku Fukko Calendar: Pictures of traditional culture and activities are used in the calendar.

* Walnut project: Walnuts trees stand everywhere in the coastal areas in Iwate. Save Iwate started buying walnuts from tsunami-hit people just after the disaster in 2011. 

Local people can pick up walnuts even if they do not have special tools. (Tools had been washed away with their houses). Save Iwate sell the nuts in various form: natural nuts to eat, art crafts, ingredient used in processed foods etc. 

(Note): Japanese walnuts is smaller than western walnuts. Its shell is harder.  

* Support of life of the people who were hit by tsunami disaster: Thousands of people left their hometowns in Sanriku coastal areas and moved to Morioka after the quake. About 1500 people still stay in Morioka. Save Iwate supports them through various activities: tea meetings, cultural events, seminars etc.

* Educational supports for children and students:  They hold classes in Morioka City and Yamada Town, in the coastal area.

>>Morioka Head Office



I first visited their office in central Morioka. 

Save Iwate has its working spaces in the 2^nd floor. Fukko Zokin (floor clothes) were piled in the stock shelves. Working desks were placed to make crafts from aid materials. (3rd picture from the top). The walnuts project is also active here.

There are office spaces for the public bodies in the same building (Morioka Fukko Shien Center, which means the support center for reconstruction).

I saw people enjoying tea meeting and playing "igo" games in the 1st floor. Most of them are from coastal areas. 

>> Working site in Sanriku

I also visited a working site for the walnut project in Nodamura village in Sanriku area. 

About 2 tons of walnuts were in a shed. (the top picture)

Local people are working there. A working group is formed with 5 to 10 people.
They crack the nuts (at a speed of 10 kilogram par hour), take out the fruits from the shell, check the quality, and send the products to Morioka.

>> Blue sky, fewsh green, Walnuts

I found many walnut trees here. New leaves have just appeared. The sky was blue and the leaves were fresh green. The breeze was confortable.

Save Iwate’s leader Mr. Yoshio Terai started the activities on March 12^th, 2011, the following day of the earthquake, with a feeling of “I have to do something.” It has been a continuing process of trial and errors, he recalls.

More than 600 volunteers have joined the activities. Tens of staff members are working in various fields now. However, restoring process is not fast enough and there are many things to do, he recognizes.