Category: English

According to the traditional Japanese almanac, cherry blossoms first open on Marach 25th.  In central Tokyo the average opening date, determined by a particular tree at the Yasukuni Shrine, is March 24. This year the blossoms have been a little but late, and the Tokyo opening was not announced until March 29th.   Out here in …

Read more “April 6~7 Cherry Blossom Time”

March 30  Some of My Next Door Neighbors My condominium is situated alongside a large man-made pond, constructed as a holding reservoir to prevent runoff water from the Chiba New Town streets from flooding the downstream farming areas. The pond was constructed simply by damming a narrow valley.  The rice paddies were wiped out, but …

Read more “March 30 Some of my Next Door Neighbors”