Weekly Topics/Archive
April 2011
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On Sunday and Tuesday this week, I went on an overnight golf trip to Numazu
and took
part in the annual golf competition, "Numazu Open", which was
organized by Kanto branch
of Ikoikai Society Reunion.
On Apr.22, the government determined the first fiscal 2011 supplementary
budget which included expense for disaster reconstruction of the Great
Tohoku Earthquake and
the assistance to the victims.
The governmental measures for earthquake disaster start off concretly.
But it's just of major concern to succesfully end the Fukushima I nuclear
accidents.
There have been making serious efforts for cold shutdown of the nuclear
reactor.
On Apr.17, TEPCO released the Road Map for termination of the Fukushima
I nuclear
accidents.
According to it, it takes six to nine months to terminate the accidents.
I wish it goes according to the Road Map.
However, considering a incredible radiation-exposed enviroment in the accident
site
and methodology that completely submerge nuclear reactor containment in
water, I can't
help feeling that it's an optimistic road map to my amateur eyes.
On the other hand, after the great disaster, a mood of self-control have been induced
among many people all over the country and so it seems the economy is just
slowing down.
With the pretext that it's a good thing for Japan to live our life as normally
as possible
for this reason, Numazu Open was held as planed, even though circumstances
don't
permit us to do so at this time.
By courtesy of the organizer, we enjoyed the benefit of deeply-discounted
overnight hotel
plan including bathing in a hot spring, three meals and green fee.
We stayed at the Hotel Nagaizumi Garden on the first day and enjoyed a
all-you-can-drink
dinner party with Chinese foods at night.
Hotel Nagaizumi Garden (phpto taken by tamma-san) |
On the following day, we played on Fuji Ace Golf Course with cherry trees
in full bloom
run by the hotel.
The departure lobby of club house |
Luckily, we didn't get caught in the rain contaminated with radiation.
For some reason, the top three were participants from kansai.
Kagawa san, congratulations on your win !
According to some people, it's because everyone from Kansai could played
golf freely
without strains of worry about afterquakes and radioactivity from damaged
nuclear reactors.
You're exactly right.
I know afterquakes still strike the Kanto area several times a day !
Suffering from tough greens, everyone's score was not so well.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to play a round of golf under 100 in the gross
score.
In the Hakone Open in June, I want to play with better score than this
time.
I enjoyed golf with old classmates living in Kanto area for the first time in a long time
after moving to kansai.
Everyone, thank you very much.
For more pictures of our golf trip, please see the link below.
 Picture / Golf / (A) 「関東いこい会ゴルフコンペ 2011・沼津オ－プン」
Picture / Golf / (D) 「関東いこい会ゴルフコンペ 2011・沼津オ－プン」
(但し,Password が必要です)
[Note] Ikoikai Society Reunion ； いこい会(クラス会)、 Numazu Open ； 沼津オ－プン
include expense for ～ ； ～に対する支出を盛り込む
fiscal 2011 supplementary budget ； 2011年度補正予算、 victim ； 被災者
disaster reconstruction ； 震災復興、 start off ； 動き出す, 動き始める
earthquake disaster measures ； 震災対策、 cold shutdown ；冷温停止
successfully end ～ ； ～をうまく終息させる、 TEPCO ; 東京電力㈱
Fukushima I nuclear accidents ； 福島第一原発事故、 incredible ； とてつもない
radiation-exposed ； 放射線に被曝した、 submerge ～ in water ； ～を水に浸す
nuclear reactor containment ； 原子炉格納容器、 optimistic ； 甘い、楽観的な
can't help feeling that～ ; ～と思えてならないのです、 to someone's amateur eyes ； 素人目にも
induce a mood of self-control among ～ ； ～の間で自粛ム－ドが広がる
with the pretext that ～ ； ～という大義名分で，～を口実に
even though circumstances don't permit someone to do ～ at this time；
このような状況で(人)が～すべきではないのかもしれないが
by courtesy of ～ ； ～の厚意により、 enjoy the benefit of ～ ； ～恩恵にあずかる
all-you-can-drink ； 飲み放題の、 get caught in the rain ； 雨に降られる
for some reason；どういうわけか, strain of worry；心労、 radioactivity；放射能
Japanese Diary / No.356－2011.04.23 / 「関東いこい会ゴルフコンペ2011・沼津オ－プン」
A month has passed since the Great Higashi-Nippon Earthquake.
However, some afterquakes of three to five on the Japanese scale have still
followed
in coastal areas of Miyagi, Fukushima and Ibaragi Prefectures.
And so I feel pain on thinking of the victims.
On the other hand, natural cycle has been repeated on the ground as if nothing happened
and the cherry blossom season has come again this year.
Whenever I see such the natural world as change day by day, I can get a
lot of courage.
According to the reports on the blooming of the cherry blossoms, they come
into season
and they are in full bloom around the Higashiyama area.
Nene-no-komichi ( Nene Path ) |
It's been a while since I enjoyed the cherry blossoms in Kyoto.
And so yesterday I went there to see them
in full bloom with just a backpack.
My destinations are Daitokuji temple as one
of the major cherry blossom viewing spots
in Kyoto and around there.
Kodai-ji was established in 1606 by
Nene ( often known by the title Kita no Mandokoro ), the widow of Toyotomi
Hideyoshi, to pray for her late husband.
To get from Kyoto station to Kodai-ji, I took
a Kyoto city bus and got off at the
Higashiyama-yasui bus stop after about
fifteen minutes.
Even though it was Monday, Higashi-oji street lined with temples and shrines
was crowded
with many young and old, men and women who came to see the blossoms.
It must be because Kyoto is a national tourist spot.
There were also many foreign tourists.
As I walked along the narrow stone-paved alley lined with Kyoto's unique
townhouses, "Machiya" and Japanese restaurant toward the mountain
side, I arrived at Nene Road
( called Nene-no-Michi in Japanese ).
A Kyoto's unique landscape was outspread before us.
The landscape around Nene Road in front of Kodai-ji |
Walking up the stone steps of Daidokoro Stairs ( Daidokoro-Zaka ) from
Nene Road,
I got to Kodaiji temple.
I payed 900 yen as an admission fee including the ones to Entoku-in Temple and Kodaiji
Sho Museum nearby, to enter Koudaiji temple.
I followed arrows to Hojyo first and enjoyed the dry landscape garden and some drooping
cherry bloosoms in full bloom there.
As a matter of fact, I visited Kodaiji to see the drooping cherry blossoms.
They were just at their best and so I admired their elegant appearance
for a while.
The drooping cherry bloosoms in full bloom in front of Hojyo of Kodaiji
Temple |
Kodaiji actually had the larger temple grounds than I had expected.
After I looked at the old temple buildings and gardens following a series
of arrows, I visited
Entoku-in temple, which was the place of Nene's death, and kodai-ji Sho
Museum.
After that, as I had enough time, I made a little side trip to nearby Maruyama
Park.
It has always been known as an open-air banquet space for people enjoying the blossoms
as well as Ueno Park in eastern Japan.
The feasts of the cherry blossoms parties are in full swing
under cherry trees in Maruyama Park |
The feast of the cherry blossoms viewing parties were in full swing on
the blue sheets
laid down here and there.
I can see some blue sheets for holding a place.
I guess they were laid down for enjoy the night view of blosooms.
The dropping cherry tree well-known in this park was also in excellently
full bloom.
We were in the shower of the blossoms when the wind blew.
The dropping cherry tree in full bloom in Kyoto's Maruyama Park |
After I went around the park, I stopped by Chionin Temple.
Since I was getting tired walking too long, I decided not to visit anywhere
else inside
the temple except to go through the mountain gate.
The mountain gate of Chionin Temple and the cherry blossoms in full bloom |
After I fully enjoyed the cherry blossoms, I got to Kyoto station by the
city bus again.
I was very hungry because I watched cherry blossoms without lanch.
I stopped at a takoyaki restaurant, "machiya" and finished up the cherry blossom viewing
by drinking with some takoyaki balls.
For more informations on the cherry blossoms in full bloom in Kodaiji Temple,
please visit
the following link.
Picture / Pilgrimage to old temples / 「桜満開の 鷲峰山 高台寺」
[Note] quake of three to five on the Japanese scale ； 震度3～5の地震
feel pain on ～ ； ～に痛みを感じる、 victim ；被災者
as if nothing happened ； 何事もなかったかのように
the report on the blooming of the cherry blossoms ； 花便り、 come into season ； 旬になる
widow ； 未亡人、 pray for her late husband ； 彼女の亡夫の冥福を祈る、 stone steps ； 石段
lined with ～ ； ～が連なる、 stone-paved alley ； 石畳の路地、 Entoku-in Temple；圓徳院
Kodaiji Sho Museum；高台寺 掌美術館、 follow arrows to ～ ； 順路に従って～に進む
drooping cherry ； 枝垂れ桜、 dry landscape garden；枯山水庭園
As a matter of fact ； 実を言うと、 admire ； ～に見とれる，感嘆する
follow a series of arrows ； 順路に従う、 the place of one's death ；終焉の地、 open-air ； 野外の
make a little side trip to ～ ； ～に足を延ばす、 banquet space ； 宴会場
The feast is in full swing ; 宴たけなわである, here and there ; あちこちで
cherry blossoms viewing party ； お花見会、 hold a place ； 場所取りをする(花見など)
shower of blossom ； 花吹雪、 watch cherry blossoms ； 花見をする
takoyaki ball ； たこ焼き
Japanese Diary / No.355－2011.04.12 /「京都・東山で満開の桜を愛でる」
Though spring has come, the weather has been cold for some time past.
But the weather forecast says it will be getting warm day by day from today.
Here in the sourthern region of Lake Biwa, it's sunny and temperature stands
at 14
degrees Celsius in the afternoon.
I have refrained from going cycling because I got depressed whenever I thought of victims
of the East Japan Earthquake and also it has been cold for some time.
However, I decided to go cycling after a long interval because the warm
weather gave me
a boost.
My destinations are the Chinese Bridge at Seta, so-called Seta-no-karahashi
in Japanese, and nearby Nagisa Park as scheduled.
Each of them is one of "the Eight Views of Omi".
The former has always been well-known as "The evening glow at Seta", and the latter
has always been well-known as "The distant view of Awazu".
I left my home at 10 past noon.
I rode my bike along the Sadanami Kaido Street which run through lakeside
areas of
Lake Biwa as usual.
As today was a weekday, this cycling road was empty.
So, I was riding my bike lightly singing a tune, " Cycling, cycling,
Yahho!
Yahho! "
Just one hour later after leaving home, I got to Seta-no-karahashi through
Yabashi-kihan island I visited before.
The Chinese Bridge at Seta, so-called Seta-no-karahashi in Japanese |
The Seta-no-karahashi is a long bridge which has long been famous for one of the three
oldest bridge in Japan.
As Japanese ancient proverb says, " The warlord who takes control of Karahashi conquer
a country", this bridge was the strategic point for trafic and military affairs and therefore
often turned into a battleground.
It was my first impression that it was simpler bridge architecturally than
I had expected.
I had my picture taken by a boy who visited here on spring vacation.
I'm a little bit self-conscious about metabolic syndrome.
I have to take a much more bike ride.
I got to Nagisa Park in about ten minutes when I rode my bike toward Ishiyama along
the shore of Lake Biwa.
There were pine groves that obviously seem to have been planted and also
was a stone monument.
Yes, I got to my destination.
According to the information board next to the monument, the old Tokaido
near here has
little remnant of row of pine trees of that time, and so pine trees was
planted in the hope
of restoring the place of scenic beauty of that time here.
I looked for the remnant of pine trees in those days along lakefront road, Route 102 parallel
to the park.
However, there were not any pine trees as noted on the board but was only row of poplar
trees.
The row of poplar trees along lakefront road, Route 102 |
I admired the view of curvy Omi-ohashi Bridge from here.
When I was riding my bike toward the Omi-ohashi Bridge to go for late
lunch, I could see
a soba restaurant.
There was an electronic signboard in front of the restaurant that I have
seen somewhere
before.
Yes, it was a shop of soba restaurant chain "Tenka-ippin" which
I have stopped for lunch
at when I went cycling to Mangetsu-ji temple famous for "The descending gees at Katada",
one of Eight Views of Omi or Omi-hakkei.
I walked into the shop without hesitation to have a lunch break.
After that, I rode my bike back to home along the Sadanami Kaido Street again by way
of Omi-ohashi Bridge.
Data on today's cycling is as below.
・Trip distance ； 30.4 Km ・Trip Time ； 1 hours 54 minutes
・Average Speed ； 16.0 Km / hour
For more informations on today's cycling, please visit the following link.
Picture / Cycling / 近江八景「勢田唐橋」 瀬田唐橋 早春のサイクリング
Picture / Cycling / 近江八景 「粟津晴嵐」 なぎさ公園 早春のサイクリング
[Note] for some time past ； ここしばらく
temperature stands at ～ degrees Celsius ； 気温は ～ ℃です
think of ～ ； ～のことを考える、 get depressed ； 気が滅入る、 refrain from ～ ； ～を控える
give someone a boost ； (人)を後押しする、 The Chinese Bridge at Seta ； 瀬田の唐橋
The evening glow at Seta ； 勢田の夕照、 ride one's bike ； 自転車で走る
The distant view of Awazu ； 粟津の晴嵐、 the Eight Views of Omi ； 近江八景
the Sadanami Kaido Street ； さざなみ街道、 strategic point ； 要衝
as the proverb says ; 諺(たとえ，俗に)言うように、 warlord ; 武将、 military affair ； 軍事
turn into ～ ； に変わる、 battleground ； 戦場、 be self-conscious about ～；～を気にする(気になる)
metabolic syndrome ； メタボ、 pine grove ； 松林、 stone monument ； 石碑
remnant ； 面影，名残、 restore ; (なくなっていたものを)復活させる
place of scenic beauty ； 名勝、 lakefront ； 湖岸の
admire the view of ～ ； ～の眺めにみほれる(感嘆する)、 curvy ； 曲線美の
go for lunch ; 昼食を取りに行く、 signboard ； 看板、 stop for lunch at ～ ； 昼食を取りに～に立ち寄る
The descending gees at Katada ; 堅田の落雁、 without hesitation ； 躊躇なく
Japanese Diary / No.351－2011.03.28 / 「早春のサイクリング(瀬田唐橋&粟津晴嵐)」
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