"Waiting for a Train (August 2012)"
Copyright 2012 by Lyle H Saxon
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 31, 2012
"Waiting for a Train (August 2012)"
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
"1990 Takadanobaba, Waseda, etc; 1991 Mini-Steam Train, etc; 2012 Yoyogi, Harajuku, etc."
Several trips back to 1990 (Ichigaya, Waseda, Ikebukuro, Takadanobaba, Hibarigaoka Bonodori, etc.) a few back to 1991 (drives to places in the country, a ride on a mini-steam locomotive, etc.), and views from this month - August 2012. I've written at some length under some of the videos regarding a few things, so scroll down for more text. Mostly the titles sum up the theme of each video though.
Shibuya Shadows (120828g)
http://youtu.be/ed5G-GmRk-o
People casting long shadows as they come and go from Shibuya Station.
Harajuku to Shibuya (Yamanote Line) 120828g
http://youtu.be/IEShkUkXVxI
Exiting Ebisu Station 120824
http://youtu.be/10hysso_YgA
Shinjuku Platform Scene (Friday Night) 120825
http://youtu.be/tX_My2sEdV4
In this video, just as the Yamanote Line is about to depart from Shinjuku Station, the emergency buzzer goes off. I don't know what the cause was - someone may have dropped a bag onto the tracks, or maybe it was a prank. After three people died on Friday, January 26th, 2001 [article] at Shin-Okubo Station, JR installed emergency stop buttons at all the stations (I think *all* - it certainly seems that way) so anyone can stop the trains from the platform now. For emergencies, this is great, but the problem is that people often press the platform emergency stop buttons for frivolous reasons. I don't know exactly what happened on this evening, but they got the trains moving quickly enough that I suspect there wasn't an actual emergency.
Platform walls (with a pair of electric doors for each place there's a door on the train) are another thing they're installing for safety reasons, but while making the platforms safer is of course a great thing, I also see that they're not repainting bridges. If they let the bridges rot to the point where they have to shut down train lines because they spent maintenance money on the very expensive doors, you have to wonder if people are looking properly at the total picture. If it's doable, it should be done, but if they're sabotaging the long-term viability of the rail system through unbalanced spending....
I don't know. But think of the energy cost for one thing. On the trains, the doors are opened and closed pneumatically, so you don't need electricity beyond the power used for the air compressors. Now imagine the situation for one ten-car train. (Many trains are 15 cars, but let's use 10 for the sake of simplicity.) Each train car has four doors per side, so that's 40 doors x2 (while there are a few trains that use a single large door, the vast majority use two halves that slide together and close in the middle). So you have 80 doors per side. For platform walls with matching doors, this is matched by 80 electric motor powered doors per track (generally on both sides of a platform). For a simple station, with one train line stopping on both sides of the platform, you then need 160 electric motor powered doors. Many stations have multiple platforms, so for a four-platform station (eight tracks), you would need 640 electric motor powered doors. One article I read indicated that there is a push to install platform walls at approximately 2,800 stations. Again, many have more than one platform, but even if there were only one platform (with two tracks) per station, that would be 448,000 electric motor powered doors.
Aside from the huge power requirements for that many motors, there's the cost of installing them and maintaining them. There are some branch lines that are barely holding on already, since rural Japan has become very much a car culture. Being forced to shoulder this much expense would probably lead to several lines just being shut down. I like safety, but I also like rail transport. If you shut down much of the rail system in the quest for "zero railway deaths" (of course shutting down a railway is one way to eliminate any deaths that could happen in a rare accident!), and people then take to the road because there are no trains in their area, there will be many more deaths due to traffic accidents. So here's a question - is exchanging a rare railway death now and then for scores of people killed in the carnage that is the internal combustion engine free-for-all of the open road really a good idea? Kill 2,000 people to save 15? Why don't people look at the whole picture?
Shinjuku Yamanote Line Arrival 120825
http://youtu.be/1jXRhxZNueg
Yurakucho Plaza Escalator 120824
http://youtu.be/vZ9XRXmMgNI
Yurakucho to Shinbashi (Yamanote Line) 120824
http://youtu.be/g2znTkUN2Wk
Evening Shinagawa to Ebisu (Yamanote Line) 120824
http://youtu.be/EqZ8BG5Y72E
Yurakucho Afternoon Shadows 120824
http://youtu.be/reszjnZWRo0
Yurakucho Evening Trains 120824
http://youtu.be/BNQqn0YFR2o
Twilight Shinbashi to Shinagawa (Yamanote Line) 120824g
http://youtu.be/jIrK6XoF4cY
1990 Ichigaya to Waseda Walk (900824) 市ヶ谷から早稲田まで散歩
http://youtu.be/KHepCbfii7w
This is a fairly long walk I took across one of those parts of central Tokyo that you usually don't think about and seldom see. Starting with two points on a map and simply aiming towards one from the other, I found myself in a residential neighborhood that you might expect to be on the edge of the city somewhere, but it's right in central Tokyo, within the Yamanote loop line. I took this back in 1990, back when I was wandering around discovering the different areas of Tokyo, but I don't think I would go there now. There's nothing amazing about the content, but it is a view of a part of central Tokyo you may well not have imagined.
1990 Ikebukuro Station (900824) 池袋駅
http://youtu.be/zcrCDZlNFYs
1990 Nighttime Hibarigaoka Station (900824) 夜のひばりヶ丘駅
http://youtu.be/twxrqTmkSCc
1990 Takadanobaba JR Station (900824) 高田馬場JR駅
http://youtu.be/pzlkEK-gikM
1990 Takadanobaba Tozai (900824) 高田馬場駅東西線
http://youtu.be/dIxe6bcwO0w
1990 Tozai Evening Rush (Waseda to Takadanobaba) 900824 東西線夕方ラッシュ
http://youtu.be/OqNLuw6tmZY
It's hard to pin down exactly what has changed, but when I watch this clip, I remember the feeling of the trains back then and the urgency of the daily commute. Superficially, nothing much (except hair styles and clothes) has changed, and yet the old intensity seems dulled now. The stress of commuting during peak hours is just the same, but there seems to be a less intense focus on getting to somewhere in the fastest possible time, and so it ends up feeling a little different. Another component of this is that the train that roars into the station in this clip is manually controlled, whereas nearly all trains are at least partially computer controlled now. With the manually controlled trains, you get a feeling of human beings at work, with a very real connection between the operator and the machine, but with the computer controlled trains, it feels something like an elevator. Someone pushes a button, but other than that, the machine runs itself.
1990 Hibarigaoka Bonodori (900824) ひばりが丘盆踊り
http://youtu.be/_DlNTtEqxqw
View from Mt Takao (120827)
http://youtu.be/9baVT-MWNjA
Mt Takao Cable Car (Ascending) 120827
http://youtu.be/MOM5gDfnqY4
Mt Takao - View From Top (120728)
http://youtu.be/k2pHL8OWQhE
In the beginning of this clip I'm just looking at the foreground, but towards the middle I focus on the sky and background - which is much more interesting than the first part of the clip.
Dancing to Live Music in Nakano (120828)
http://youtu.be/yI1g5bj4-tg
Musical Fun in Nakano (120828g)
http://youtu.be/EY3eFjnDDq8
Small Park in Ebisu 120828
http://youtu.be/XHRlA-5A4S0
I began this clip in a small park in Ebisu by looking through a fence at the street the park is next to - and then panning to the right to take in a view of the park itself.
Shibuya Nighttime Stroll (A) 120828
http://youtu.be/tC1QcGKlOnI
Shibuya Nighttime Stroll (B) Streets to Station 120828
http://youtu.be/OhW3KwYfnFI
Shinjuku to Nakano (Night Window View) 120828
http://youtu.be/vKLHzAb0mCE
Waiting for a Train in Nakano 120828
http://youtu.be/GWskOIQZ4I8
Chuo Line Midnight Interior 120829
http://youtu.be/JSAlJMwxh74
Kokubunji Platform Look-around 120828
http://youtu.be/WKosHVNAY3g
Chuo Line Departing Shinjuku 120828
http://youtu.be/3MNKAhjDuno
Shinjuku Platform-5 Look-around (120828)
http://youtu.be/7NWc0FrXp-U
Temporary Passageways in Shinjuku Station 120828
http://youtu.be/Y4n5Gb5cpMs
This area near the Southern Terrace has been under construction for years now. Eventually it will look radically different from the temporary white walled temporary corridors that are there now.
Entering Shinjuku Station via Southern Terrace Entrance 120828
http://youtu.be/q1AkjBYvRkY
Walk to Platform (Shinjuku Yamanote Line) 120828
http://youtu.be/vN36OSDE7mQ
Shinjuku Platform Walk (Yamanote Line) 120828
http://youtu.be/7DyVdMfpSOQ
Shinjuku to Yoyogi (Yamanote Line) 120828
http://youtu.be/B5ljT8Gpcwo
Shibuya to Ebisu (Ebisu Platform Walk) 120828
http://youtu.be/XCA10wnkXQI
Shibuya Vertical Shadows 120828
http://youtu.be/JbEEXfoqGHs
A time of year and a time of day when people were casting very long shadows as they walked to and from Shibuya Station in the evening one hot summer day.
Shibuya Stroll (C) Crossing and Station 120828
http://youtu.be/Vj2Vc6Mw6p8
Shibuya Stroll (B) 120828
http://youtu.be/KFknBri_ynw
Shibuya Stroll (A) Crossing Etc 120828
http://youtu.be/uwU7BDHBrmk
Platform to Ticket Gates (Shibuya) 120828
http://youtu.be/JlxOvtC9hPg
Entering Takeshita-Dori (Harajuku) 120828
http://youtu.be/1URwZN_dAeo
Takeshita-Dori Stroll (Harajuku) 120828
http://youtu.be/XunIV5wrvS0
It's been a while since I've walked down Takeshita-dori in Harajuku. It seemed about the same as I remember, although back when I first went down the street in the eighties, it wasn't a specific tourist destination. Now the street has always got a lot of tourists there to see the street itself rather than to go to its shops. Over the years, I've noticed more and more of this. The Ameyokocho area in Ueno at New Years is pretty close to full-out insane! A couple of years back (or was it three?) I went there and it seemed like easily 90% of the people there were there just to experience the event of being on the crowded street.
I suppose YouTube and the Internet have a lot to do with this kind of progression. In the old days, you would get information about tourist things to check out in a city by reading guide books, magazines, and whatnot, or having a friend show you around. A friend would know some non-touristy things/places to show you and a back streets place could maintain its status as an area for locals, visited only rarely by foreign tourists. Now everyone is falling over themselves to find (and publish stories about) interesting places "off the beaten track" and - lo-and-behold - once they post text, photos, and videos on-line, the places become the beaten track in a remarkably short time.
Of course, Takeshita-dori was never an unknown off-the-beaten-track place, but it didn't used to be a "must see!" tourist destination. As for changes, I saw a fairly large section that's been torn down and appears to be in the foundation stages of some new construction. Probably another steel and glass box with a sealed air system. (I wonder how long it will be before people rediscover how to properly ventilate buildings?)
Harajuku Stroll 120828
http://youtu.be/lVLBfsJGLAU
Harajuku Summer Light and Shadows 120828
http://youtu.be/4BR_ou1IgmE
Noisy Crow in Harajuku 120828
http://youtu.be/OeIBgfka8rw
That Tokyo crows are noisy is just a given, but what was strange about this one, is how it was down low at people-level, with people all around. I cautiously walked up to it and recorded this video. It seemed to be about as nervous of me as I was of it, and after continuing to to make its racket for me and my camera while eying me suspiciously from time-to-time, it flew off a few feet - I followed - and it flew off a few more feet, at which point I decided to leave it alone. I'm still pondering what it was doing down so low like that. Hoping someone would give it food? At least one young woman was frightened by it and ran off.
Crows are famous for being clever birds, and they have tended to appear clever to me from a distance, so I was mildly surprised to notice how the bird looked primitive and not very cleaver when observed at close range. Maybe it was just a stupid (or crazy?) crow, and others look different? Still, the "primitive beast" appearance of it was grotesquely fascinating to observe at close range.
Harajuku August Sidewalk Near Station 120828
http://youtu.be/Uln1WxMeXz8
[From] Harajuku Ticket Gates to Platform 120828
http://youtu.be/o9RNTSSj66Q
Ebisu Mall Stroll and Escalator 120828
http://youtu.be/c48lWeSJJLw
1991: Driving Through Medium-Sized Town (910818)
http://youtu.be/ygJAgpCuGwA
1991 Mini-Steam Train Ride ミニSLを乗る1991年 - (910818)
http://youtu.be/b9_2K0MEVFc
This miniature steam powered train was surprisingly fun to ride! I'm not sure what the exact reason for it is, but there's something fun and fascinating about steam engines - maybe it's the basic simplicity of the technology. You can imagine the whole process pretty well, unlike with a computer-controlled electrically powered machine. Or maybe there's something about the basic elements of water, fire, and steam. In any case, it was a lot of fun and the steam whistle sure sounded good!
1991 Mountain Lakeside Rest Area (910812)
http://youtu.be/b26mtWSPYjU
1991 Mountain Town [Narai 奈良井] (910812) [Part Two]
http://youtu.be/qvcuM6y3K0g
This is actually a continuation (on a different tape) of a video I posted in June of a festival I stumbled upon while driving around in the countryside in 1991 in a 1991 Honda Beat. Here is the first part of the video (with the same explanatory text I posted before):
1991 Kisokaido Narai-juku Natsu-Matsuri (910812) [Part One]
http://youtu.be/uA_1hhm9gpw
A look at Narai 奈良井 (or Naraijuku 奈良井宿) on August 12th, 1991. Narai is a traditional town on the old Kisokaido 木曽街道 (or Nakasendo 中山道) road. This is the 34th (or 35th, there seems to be some dispute about this) stage of the 69 Stages of the Nakasendo series of woodblock prints (中山道六十九次).
1991 Train Ride in Saitama Countryside (910818)
http://youtu.be/NSheUQIbBpA
Yoyogi Station Walkabout (JR) 120828
http://youtu.be/U8f7M-671fw
Yoyogi Station Walk-through (JR) 120828
http://youtu.be/RMqixDApHh8
Yoyogi Afternoon Stroll 120828
http://youtu.be/d4Asz5JqZxQ
Yoyogi Railway Bridge and RR Crossing 120828
http://youtu.be/JKmDTkVxReE
Yoyogi to Harajuku 120828
http://youtu.be/sO2hSRukXZU
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
Shibuya Shadows (120828g)
http://youtu.be/ed5G-GmRk-o
People casting long shadows as they come and go from Shibuya Station.
Harajuku to Shibuya (Yamanote Line) 120828g
http://youtu.be/IEShkUkXVxI
Exiting Ebisu Station 120824
http://youtu.be/10hysso_YgA
Shinjuku Platform Scene (Friday Night) 120825
http://youtu.be/tX_My2sEdV4
In this video, just as the Yamanote Line is about to depart from Shinjuku Station, the emergency buzzer goes off. I don't know what the cause was - someone may have dropped a bag onto the tracks, or maybe it was a prank. After three people died on Friday, January 26th, 2001 [article] at Shin-Okubo Station, JR installed emergency stop buttons at all the stations (I think *all* - it certainly seems that way) so anyone can stop the trains from the platform now. For emergencies, this is great, but the problem is that people often press the platform emergency stop buttons for frivolous reasons. I don't know exactly what happened on this evening, but they got the trains moving quickly enough that I suspect there wasn't an actual emergency.
Platform walls (with a pair of electric doors for each place there's a door on the train) are another thing they're installing for safety reasons, but while making the platforms safer is of course a great thing, I also see that they're not repainting bridges. If they let the bridges rot to the point where they have to shut down train lines because they spent maintenance money on the very expensive doors, you have to wonder if people are looking properly at the total picture. If it's doable, it should be done, but if they're sabotaging the long-term viability of the rail system through unbalanced spending....
I don't know. But think of the energy cost for one thing. On the trains, the doors are opened and closed pneumatically, so you don't need electricity beyond the power used for the air compressors. Now imagine the situation for one ten-car train. (Many trains are 15 cars, but let's use 10 for the sake of simplicity.) Each train car has four doors per side, so that's 40 doors x2 (while there are a few trains that use a single large door, the vast majority use two halves that slide together and close in the middle). So you have 80 doors per side. For platform walls with matching doors, this is matched by 80 electric motor powered doors per track (generally on both sides of a platform). For a simple station, with one train line stopping on both sides of the platform, you then need 160 electric motor powered doors. Many stations have multiple platforms, so for a four-platform station (eight tracks), you would need 640 electric motor powered doors. One article I read indicated that there is a push to install platform walls at approximately 2,800 stations. Again, many have more than one platform, but even if there were only one platform (with two tracks) per station, that would be 448,000 electric motor powered doors.
Aside from the huge power requirements for that many motors, there's the cost of installing them and maintaining them. There are some branch lines that are barely holding on already, since rural Japan has become very much a car culture. Being forced to shoulder this much expense would probably lead to several lines just being shut down. I like safety, but I also like rail transport. If you shut down much of the rail system in the quest for "zero railway deaths" (of course shutting down a railway is one way to eliminate any deaths that could happen in a rare accident!), and people then take to the road because there are no trains in their area, there will be many more deaths due to traffic accidents. So here's a question - is exchanging a rare railway death now and then for scores of people killed in the carnage that is the internal combustion engine free-for-all of the open road really a good idea? Kill 2,000 people to save 15? Why don't people look at the whole picture?
Shinjuku Yamanote Line Arrival 120825
http://youtu.be/1jXRhxZNueg
Yurakucho Plaza Escalator 120824
http://youtu.be/vZ9XRXmMgNI
Yurakucho to Shinbashi (Yamanote Line) 120824
http://youtu.be/g2znTkUN2Wk
Evening Shinagawa to Ebisu (Yamanote Line) 120824
http://youtu.be/EqZ8BG5Y72E
Yurakucho Afternoon Shadows 120824
http://youtu.be/reszjnZWRo0
Yurakucho Evening Trains 120824
http://youtu.be/BNQqn0YFR2o
Twilight Shinbashi to Shinagawa (Yamanote Line) 120824g
http://youtu.be/jIrK6XoF4cY
1990 Ichigaya to Waseda Walk (900824) 市ヶ谷から早稲田まで散歩
http://youtu.be/KHepCbfii7w
This is a fairly long walk I took across one of those parts of central Tokyo that you usually don't think about and seldom see. Starting with two points on a map and simply aiming towards one from the other, I found myself in a residential neighborhood that you might expect to be on the edge of the city somewhere, but it's right in central Tokyo, within the Yamanote loop line. I took this back in 1990, back when I was wandering around discovering the different areas of Tokyo, but I don't think I would go there now. There's nothing amazing about the content, but it is a view of a part of central Tokyo you may well not have imagined.
1990 Ikebukuro Station (900824) 池袋駅
http://youtu.be/zcrCDZlNFYs
1990 Nighttime Hibarigaoka Station (900824) 夜のひばりヶ丘駅
http://youtu.be/twxrqTmkSCc
1990 Takadanobaba JR Station (900824) 高田馬場JR駅
http://youtu.be/pzlkEK-gikM
1990 Takadanobaba Tozai (900824) 高田馬場駅東西線
http://youtu.be/dIxe6bcwO0w
1990 Tozai Evening Rush (Waseda to Takadanobaba) 900824 東西線夕方ラッシュ
http://youtu.be/OqNLuw6tmZY
It's hard to pin down exactly what has changed, but when I watch this clip, I remember the feeling of the trains back then and the urgency of the daily commute. Superficially, nothing much (except hair styles and clothes) has changed, and yet the old intensity seems dulled now. The stress of commuting during peak hours is just the same, but there seems to be a less intense focus on getting to somewhere in the fastest possible time, and so it ends up feeling a little different. Another component of this is that the train that roars into the station in this clip is manually controlled, whereas nearly all trains are at least partially computer controlled now. With the manually controlled trains, you get a feeling of human beings at work, with a very real connection between the operator and the machine, but with the computer controlled trains, it feels something like an elevator. Someone pushes a button, but other than that, the machine runs itself.
1990 Hibarigaoka Bonodori (900824) ひばりが丘盆踊り
http://youtu.be/_DlNTtEqxqw
View from Mt Takao (120827)
http://youtu.be/9baVT-MWNjA
Mt Takao Cable Car (Ascending) 120827
http://youtu.be/MOM5gDfnqY4
Mt Takao - View From Top (120728)
http://youtu.be/k2pHL8OWQhE
In the beginning of this clip I'm just looking at the foreground, but towards the middle I focus on the sky and background - which is much more interesting than the first part of the clip.
Dancing to Live Music in Nakano (120828)
http://youtu.be/yI1g5bj4-tg
Musical Fun in Nakano (120828g)
http://youtu.be/EY3eFjnDDq8
Small Park in Ebisu 120828
http://youtu.be/XHRlA-5A4S0
I began this clip in a small park in Ebisu by looking through a fence at the street the park is next to - and then panning to the right to take in a view of the park itself.
Shibuya Nighttime Stroll (A) 120828
http://youtu.be/tC1QcGKlOnI
Shibuya Nighttime Stroll (B) Streets to Station 120828
http://youtu.be/OhW3KwYfnFI
Shinjuku to Nakano (Night Window View) 120828
http://youtu.be/vKLHzAb0mCE
Waiting for a Train in Nakano 120828
http://youtu.be/GWskOIQZ4I8
Chuo Line Midnight Interior 120829
http://youtu.be/JSAlJMwxh74
Kokubunji Platform Look-around 120828
http://youtu.be/WKosHVNAY3g
Chuo Line Departing Shinjuku 120828
http://youtu.be/3MNKAhjDuno
Shinjuku Platform-5 Look-around (120828)
http://youtu.be/7NWc0FrXp-U
Temporary Passageways in Shinjuku Station 120828
http://youtu.be/Y4n5Gb5cpMs
This area near the Southern Terrace has been under construction for years now. Eventually it will look radically different from the temporary white walled temporary corridors that are there now.
Entering Shinjuku Station via Southern Terrace Entrance 120828
http://youtu.be/q1AkjBYvRkY
Walk to Platform (Shinjuku Yamanote Line) 120828
http://youtu.be/vN36OSDE7mQ
Shinjuku Platform Walk (Yamanote Line) 120828
http://youtu.be/7DyVdMfpSOQ
Shinjuku to Yoyogi (Yamanote Line) 120828
http://youtu.be/B5ljT8Gpcwo
Shibuya to Ebisu (Ebisu Platform Walk) 120828
http://youtu.be/XCA10wnkXQI
Shibuya Vertical Shadows 120828
http://youtu.be/JbEEXfoqGHs
A time of year and a time of day when people were casting very long shadows as they walked to and from Shibuya Station in the evening one hot summer day.
Shibuya Stroll (C) Crossing and Station 120828
http://youtu.be/Vj2Vc6Mw6p8
Shibuya Stroll (B) 120828
http://youtu.be/KFknBri_ynw
Shibuya Stroll (A) Crossing Etc 120828
http://youtu.be/uwU7BDHBrmk
Platform to Ticket Gates (Shibuya) 120828
http://youtu.be/JlxOvtC9hPg
Entering Takeshita-Dori (Harajuku) 120828
http://youtu.be/1URwZN_dAeo
Takeshita-Dori Stroll (Harajuku) 120828
http://youtu.be/XunIV5wrvS0
It's been a while since I've walked down Takeshita-dori in Harajuku. It seemed about the same as I remember, although back when I first went down the street in the eighties, it wasn't a specific tourist destination. Now the street has always got a lot of tourists there to see the street itself rather than to go to its shops. Over the years, I've noticed more and more of this. The Ameyokocho area in Ueno at New Years is pretty close to full-out insane! A couple of years back (or was it three?) I went there and it seemed like easily 90% of the people there were there just to experience the event of being on the crowded street.
I suppose YouTube and the Internet have a lot to do with this kind of progression. In the old days, you would get information about tourist things to check out in a city by reading guide books, magazines, and whatnot, or having a friend show you around. A friend would know some non-touristy things/places to show you and a back streets place could maintain its status as an area for locals, visited only rarely by foreign tourists. Now everyone is falling over themselves to find (and publish stories about) interesting places "off the beaten track" and - lo-and-behold - once they post text, photos, and videos on-line, the places become the beaten track in a remarkably short time.
Of course, Takeshita-dori was never an unknown off-the-beaten-track place, but it didn't used to be a "must see!" tourist destination. As for changes, I saw a fairly large section that's been torn down and appears to be in the foundation stages of some new construction. Probably another steel and glass box with a sealed air system. (I wonder how long it will be before people rediscover how to properly ventilate buildings?)
Harajuku Stroll 120828
http://youtu.be/lVLBfsJGLAU
Harajuku Summer Light and Shadows 120828
http://youtu.be/4BR_ou1IgmE
Noisy Crow in Harajuku 120828
http://youtu.be/OeIBgfka8rw
That Tokyo crows are noisy is just a given, but what was strange about this one, is how it was down low at people-level, with people all around. I cautiously walked up to it and recorded this video. It seemed to be about as nervous of me as I was of it, and after continuing to to make its racket for me and my camera while eying me suspiciously from time-to-time, it flew off a few feet - I followed - and it flew off a few more feet, at which point I decided to leave it alone. I'm still pondering what it was doing down so low like that. Hoping someone would give it food? At least one young woman was frightened by it and ran off.
Crows are famous for being clever birds, and they have tended to appear clever to me from a distance, so I was mildly surprised to notice how the bird looked primitive and not very cleaver when observed at close range. Maybe it was just a stupid (or crazy?) crow, and others look different? Still, the "primitive beast" appearance of it was grotesquely fascinating to observe at close range.
Harajuku August Sidewalk Near Station 120828
http://youtu.be/Uln1WxMeXz8
[From] Harajuku Ticket Gates to Platform 120828
http://youtu.be/o9RNTSSj66Q
Ebisu Mall Stroll and Escalator 120828
http://youtu.be/c48lWeSJJLw
1991: Driving Through Medium-Sized Town (910818)
http://youtu.be/ygJAgpCuGwA
1991 Mini-Steam Train Ride ミニSLを乗る1991年 - (910818)
http://youtu.be/b9_2K0MEVFc
This miniature steam powered train was surprisingly fun to ride! I'm not sure what the exact reason for it is, but there's something fun and fascinating about steam engines - maybe it's the basic simplicity of the technology. You can imagine the whole process pretty well, unlike with a computer-controlled electrically powered machine. Or maybe there's something about the basic elements of water, fire, and steam. In any case, it was a lot of fun and the steam whistle sure sounded good!
1991 Mountain Lakeside Rest Area (910812)
http://youtu.be/b26mtWSPYjU
1991 Mountain Town [Narai 奈良井] (910812) [Part Two]
http://youtu.be/qvcuM6y3K0g
This is actually a continuation (on a different tape) of a video I posted in June of a festival I stumbled upon while driving around in the countryside in 1991 in a 1991 Honda Beat. Here is the first part of the video (with the same explanatory text I posted before):
1991 Kisokaido Narai-juku Natsu-Matsuri (910812) [Part One]
http://youtu.be/uA_1hhm9gpw
A look at Narai 奈良井 (or Naraijuku 奈良井宿) on August 12th, 1991. Narai is a traditional town on the old Kisokaido 木曽街道 (or Nakasendo 中山道) road. This is the 34th (or 35th, there seems to be some dispute about this) stage of the 69 Stages of the Nakasendo series of woodblock prints (中山道六十九次).
1991 Train Ride in Saitama Countryside (910818)
http://youtu.be/NSheUQIbBpA
Yoyogi Station Walkabout (JR) 120828
http://youtu.be/U8f7M-671fw
Yoyogi Station Walk-through (JR) 120828
http://youtu.be/RMqixDApHh8
Yoyogi Afternoon Stroll 120828
http://youtu.be/d4Asz5JqZxQ
Yoyogi Railway Bridge and RR Crossing 120828
http://youtu.be/JKmDTkVxReE
Yoyogi to Harajuku 120828
http://youtu.be/sO2hSRukXZU
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
Friday, August 24, 2012
"Ginza 1-Chome (August 2012)"
)
Ginza 1-Chome (August 2012)
Copyright 2012 by Lyle H Saxon
A rare open lot in Ginza - soon to be filled with high-rise.
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
"1990 Koenji Matsuri, Hibarigaoka, Tanashi, Etc.; 2012 Nakano, Keio Line, Etc."
Another batch mixing current Tokyo views with trips back to 1990. Going back to 1990, there are walkabout views of Hibarigaoka (north side of Hibarigaoka Station) and Tanashi, a 30-minute visit to the natsu-matsuri in Koenji and a few other things.
In 2012, I visit Nakano and walk around on back streets and through the Broadway building with its many small shops (books, movie memorabilia, etc.). There is also a walk-around view of a whole section of former drinking places that have mostly been torn down to (most probably) make way for yet another high-rise. The old wooden back-street areas of Tokyo disappear year-by-year - in the future, one hopes at least a few rustic areas will be preserved. The contrasts of Tokyo are a large part of its attraction. When everything is new, you lose that element.
There are also views of art exhibitions and train views from various lines - including some long clips from the Keio and Chuo Lines.
Evening Trains in Nakano (120821)
http://youtu.be/cvzdyFr7lyw
1990 Koenji Natsu Matsuri (900827) 高円寺阿波おどり夏祭り
http://youtu.be/ZiBZ0LbeRqU
1990 Tamachi と Nihonbashi (900827)
http://youtu.be/6rMLLQgEZTI
Nakano Demolition (Old Wooden Buildings R.I.P.) (120821)
http://youtu.be/LYmFvb7s8NM
Shinjuku to Kanda (Afternoon Chuo Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/AgHXxiTHjoM
Tachikawa to Hachioji (Chuo Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/tLFoVEwFddU
Hachioji to Takao (Chuo Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/87eU5R0B0lk
Kokubunji Sanpo 120819
http://youtu.be/guYLPlQWbP8
1990 Shibuya to Ikebukuro (Yamanote Line) 900820
http://youtu.be/9cnU_DwmY-0
1990 Ikebukuro (Yamanote to Seibu Transfer) 900820
http://youtu.be/F-IzJs-fY_I
Kokubunji to Tachikawa (Chuo Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/u0opn8iC-y8
Mitaka to Kokubunji (Chuo Line Window View) 120819
http://youtu.be/224JMYBco78
Group Exhibition at Ai Gallery 藍ギャラリー (August 2012) 120820
http://youtu.be/mfDSELcMFiI
Nakano Hotel World Kaikan Building (Stairs and Hallways) 120821
http://youtu.be/CqgICaB6OwU
Nakano Hotel World Kaikan Building (Exterior) 120821
http://youtu.be/o8z9FMe9vOY
Heading for Train at Ogikubo Station 120819
http://youtu.be/p22z5hUe8Gs
Summer Park Sounds 120819
http://youtu.be/SpSBQDZC-DA
Nakano Broadway Walkabout (A) 120821
http://youtu.be/BbT9D39-F10
Nakano Broadway Walkabout (B) 120821
http://youtu.be/61DzCtpYhTQ
Nakano Broadway Walkabout (C) 120821
http://youtu.be/TEr5AG_K7Jg
Nakano Back Streets (A) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/2NQKB7xYL5Q
Nakano Back Streets (B) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/SY10k9i8kXA
Nakano Back Streets (C) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/QJeMtWU7atU
Nakano Back Streets (D) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/9CfxKvoReTk
Nakano Back Streets (E) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/tRF0Wd-U2aY
Nakano Back Streets (F) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/-CkhOT-OIBI
Keio Line Train Arriving at Station 120820
http://youtu.be/ZwZx9EWpOQI
Kanda to Yurakucho (Yamanote Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/Pct2mZkB7hc
Ogikubo to Nakano (Chuo Line) 120821
http://youtu.be/3EonkhQazEI
Kanda (Chuo to Yamanote) 120820
http://youtu.be/wLVbmi5VwyE
Kanda - Chuo Line Arriving (Construction) 120820
http://youtu.be/stm8XBgH5H8
Nighttime Yurakucho Station Bound (Summer 2012) 120820
http://youtu.be/VKpZ3GE8CTA
Old Type Express Train Arriving at Shinjuku 120820
http://youtu.be/xzLdVjpTXj8
Yaesu-Guchi Construction Cranes (Tokyo Station) 120820
http://youtu.be/ilPqaCPxXG8
Yurakucho Station (Hot August Day) 120820
http://youtu.be/gAFFB4bNCQY
Entering Nakano Broadway 120821
http://youtu.be/mVkuYQUPc-M
Nakano Game Center 120821
http://youtu.be/O-YW6ETpceI
Nakano Narrow Walkways (Edge of Izakaya Area) 120821
http://youtu.be/xnk-qpZi-eU
Nakano Station (Platform to Exit and New Pedestrian Bridge) 120821
http://youtu.be/-Bec-AscDZg
Nakano Sun Mall Stroll 中野サンモール (A) 120821
http://youtu.be/7q8NWg-WtJM
Nakano Sun Mall Stroll 中野サンモール (B) 120821
http://youtu.be/GASg-CsGYcA
1990 Hanzomon Line to Shibuya (900820)
http://youtu.be/ZafN87xdS7c
1990 Hachiko Square and Beer Garden (Shibuya) 900820
http://youtu.be/OAFdPwueE3Y
Nakano Evening (Station North Side) 120821
http://youtu.be/RwMsmv5iSrM
Evening Nakano Back Street 120821
http://youtu.be/a7ENQem5WOM
Evening Nakano Station 120821
http://youtu.be/clW6SjisnGw
Boarding Keio Line at Takao Station 120820
http://youtu.be/wr1U-hhfAFQ
Exiting Keio Line in Shinjuku 120820
http://youtu.be/ZnuuzL5W4rk
Inbound Keio Line Front Cab View (A) 120820
http://youtu.be/P3lLszQ4bxE
Inbound Keio Line Front Cab View (B) 120820
http://youtu.be/23DsC6IDCNA
JR Takao View From Keio Line Train 120820
http://youtu.be/px4DjfTgmag
1990 Bus (Hibarigaoka to Tanashi) 900821
http://youtu.be/rBUs8pPWGhg
1990 Hibarigaoka (Kita-Guchi Side) 900821
http://youtu.be/hE3Ol9SXHN8
1990 Nishi-Shinjuku Night Sanpo (900821)
http://youtu.be/R3h1H-UJw8Y
Inaba Hirono 稲葉寛乃展 Installation at Gallery-58 (August 2012) 120820
http://youtu.be/mSC7sj6Urb8
Eric Pelletier Exhibition at Art Space Rondo (August 2012) (A) 120820
http://youtu.be/Ra6ni_9D3MM
Eric Pelletier Exhibition at Art Space Rondo (August 2012) (B) 120820
http://youtu.be/HP6nARg03q4
1990 Shinjuku Afternoon Sanpo (900821)
http://youtu.be/Yh-Bn3bOfJ4
1990 Tanashi Station (900821)
http://youtu.be/d-x3RC1_XL0
1990 Tanashi to Shinjuku (900821)
http://youtu.be/Vq8cibKQcfc
1990 Tanashi-shi Summer Walkabout (900821)
http://youtu.be/PfQ6Zb1RGwQ
1990: Here と There (Day と Night) 900823
http://youtu.be/7dXVcUgfDsI
1990 Late Night Stores (900827)
http://youtu.be/oCFyZyqrkYM
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
In 2012, I visit Nakano and walk around on back streets and through the Broadway building with its many small shops (books, movie memorabilia, etc.). There is also a walk-around view of a whole section of former drinking places that have mostly been torn down to (most probably) make way for yet another high-rise. The old wooden back-street areas of Tokyo disappear year-by-year - in the future, one hopes at least a few rustic areas will be preserved. The contrasts of Tokyo are a large part of its attraction. When everything is new, you lose that element.
There are also views of art exhibitions and train views from various lines - including some long clips from the Keio and Chuo Lines.
Evening Trains in Nakano (120821)
http://youtu.be/cvzdyFr7lyw
1990 Koenji Natsu Matsuri (900827) 高円寺阿波おどり夏祭り
http://youtu.be/ZiBZ0LbeRqU
1990 Tamachi と Nihonbashi (900827)
http://youtu.be/6rMLLQgEZTI
Nakano Demolition (Old Wooden Buildings R.I.P.) (120821)
http://youtu.be/LYmFvb7s8NM
Shinjuku to Kanda (Afternoon Chuo Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/AgHXxiTHjoM
Tachikawa to Hachioji (Chuo Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/tLFoVEwFddU
Hachioji to Takao (Chuo Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/87eU5R0B0lk
Kokubunji Sanpo 120819
http://youtu.be/guYLPlQWbP8
1990 Shibuya to Ikebukuro (Yamanote Line) 900820
http://youtu.be/9cnU_DwmY-0
1990 Ikebukuro (Yamanote to Seibu Transfer) 900820
http://youtu.be/F-IzJs-fY_I
Kokubunji to Tachikawa (Chuo Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/u0opn8iC-y8
Mitaka to Kokubunji (Chuo Line Window View) 120819
http://youtu.be/224JMYBco78
Group Exhibition at Ai Gallery 藍ギャラリー (August 2012) 120820
http://youtu.be/mfDSELcMFiI
Nakano Hotel World Kaikan Building (Stairs and Hallways) 120821
http://youtu.be/CqgICaB6OwU
Nakano Hotel World Kaikan Building (Exterior) 120821
http://youtu.be/o8z9FMe9vOY
Heading for Train at Ogikubo Station 120819
http://youtu.be/p22z5hUe8Gs
Summer Park Sounds 120819
http://youtu.be/SpSBQDZC-DA
Nakano Broadway Walkabout (A) 120821
http://youtu.be/BbT9D39-F10
Nakano Broadway Walkabout (B) 120821
http://youtu.be/61DzCtpYhTQ
Nakano Broadway Walkabout (C) 120821
http://youtu.be/TEr5AG_K7Jg
Nakano Back Streets (A) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/2NQKB7xYL5Q
Nakano Back Streets (B) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/SY10k9i8kXA
Nakano Back Streets (C) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/QJeMtWU7atU
Nakano Back Streets (D) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/9CfxKvoReTk
Nakano Back Streets (E) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/tRF0Wd-U2aY
Nakano Back Streets (F) August 2012 (120821)
http://youtu.be/-CkhOT-OIBI
Keio Line Train Arriving at Station 120820
http://youtu.be/ZwZx9EWpOQI
Kanda to Yurakucho (Yamanote Line) 120820
http://youtu.be/Pct2mZkB7hc
Ogikubo to Nakano (Chuo Line) 120821
http://youtu.be/3EonkhQazEI
Kanda (Chuo to Yamanote) 120820
http://youtu.be/wLVbmi5VwyE
Kanda - Chuo Line Arriving (Construction) 120820
http://youtu.be/stm8XBgH5H8
Nighttime Yurakucho Station Bound (Summer 2012) 120820
http://youtu.be/VKpZ3GE8CTA
Old Type Express Train Arriving at Shinjuku 120820
http://youtu.be/xzLdVjpTXj8
Yaesu-Guchi Construction Cranes (Tokyo Station) 120820
http://youtu.be/ilPqaCPxXG8
Yurakucho Station (Hot August Day) 120820
http://youtu.be/gAFFB4bNCQY
Entering Nakano Broadway 120821
http://youtu.be/mVkuYQUPc-M
Nakano Game Center 120821
http://youtu.be/O-YW6ETpceI
Nakano Narrow Walkways (Edge of Izakaya Area) 120821
http://youtu.be/xnk-qpZi-eU
Nakano Station (Platform to Exit and New Pedestrian Bridge) 120821
http://youtu.be/-Bec-AscDZg
Nakano Sun Mall Stroll 中野サンモール (A) 120821
http://youtu.be/7q8NWg-WtJM
Nakano Sun Mall Stroll 中野サンモール (B) 120821
http://youtu.be/GASg-CsGYcA
1990 Hanzomon Line to Shibuya (900820)
http://youtu.be/ZafN87xdS7c
1990 Hachiko Square and Beer Garden (Shibuya) 900820
http://youtu.be/OAFdPwueE3Y
Nakano Evening (Station North Side) 120821
http://youtu.be/RwMsmv5iSrM
Evening Nakano Back Street 120821
http://youtu.be/a7ENQem5WOM
Evening Nakano Station 120821
http://youtu.be/clW6SjisnGw
Boarding Keio Line at Takao Station 120820
http://youtu.be/wr1U-hhfAFQ
Exiting Keio Line in Shinjuku 120820
http://youtu.be/ZnuuzL5W4rk
Inbound Keio Line Front Cab View (A) 120820
http://youtu.be/P3lLszQ4bxE
Inbound Keio Line Front Cab View (B) 120820
http://youtu.be/23DsC6IDCNA
JR Takao View From Keio Line Train 120820
http://youtu.be/px4DjfTgmag
1990 Bus (Hibarigaoka to Tanashi) 900821
http://youtu.be/rBUs8pPWGhg
1990 Hibarigaoka (Kita-Guchi Side) 900821
http://youtu.be/hE3Ol9SXHN8
1990 Nishi-Shinjuku Night Sanpo (900821)
http://youtu.be/R3h1H-UJw8Y
Inaba Hirono 稲葉寛乃展 Installation at Gallery-58 (August 2012) 120820
http://youtu.be/mSC7sj6Urb8
Eric Pelletier Exhibition at Art Space Rondo (August 2012) (A) 120820
http://youtu.be/Ra6ni_9D3MM
Eric Pelletier Exhibition at Art Space Rondo (August 2012) (B) 120820
http://youtu.be/HP6nARg03q4
1990 Shinjuku Afternoon Sanpo (900821)
http://youtu.be/Yh-Bn3bOfJ4
1990 Tanashi Station (900821)
http://youtu.be/d-x3RC1_XL0
1990 Tanashi to Shinjuku (900821)
http://youtu.be/Vq8cibKQcfc
1990 Tanashi-shi Summer Walkabout (900821)
http://youtu.be/PfQ6Zb1RGwQ
1990: Here と There (Day と Night) 900823
http://youtu.be/7dXVcUgfDsI
1990 Late Night Stores (900827)
http://youtu.be/oCFyZyqrkYM
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
"New Kabukiza Construction - August 2012"
"New Kabukiza Construction - August 2012"
Copyright 2012 by Lyle H Saxon
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
"1990 Tabata, Shinjuku, Etc; 2012 Yamanote Line, Ginza, Etc."
This batch jumps back and forth between 1990 and 2012 (with one video from 1993, which references a video from 1991). The opening scene is of a 1990 rooftop beer garden in Shinjuku, then a 1990 udon shop in a train station, followed by a 1993 look at an archaeological dig where the Shiodome office towers now stand. There are also art exhibition views, a couple of long Yamanote Line rides, and glimpses of other train lines in Tokyo.
I'll comment after some of the video titles and links below.
1990 Shinjuku Rooftop Beer Garden - (900816)
http://youtu.be/wYe0RtMzKOo
There are still rooftop beer gardens in Tokyo, but not nearly as many as there used to be. Regarding a difference between then and now (to a degree anyway), as a viewer commented, just about all the men are wearing white shirts. It was in the bubble years (of which this is the tail end, when things were just beginning to slide), that some people began to wear colored shirts, but even now, probably there are more people wearing white shirts here than in many countries.
1990 Udon と Soba Ticket Machine (900806)
http://youtu.be/pGxpsfQOt74
1993 Shiodome Archaeological Dig - (930624)
http://youtu.be/HS-lX8-PyS4
Before the many office towers went up in Shiodome, this was undeveloped land. It used to be a rail freight yard, after which the rails were ripped out and it was used for model homes, a circus, a small amusement park, etc. I visited it during this time period in 1991:
Shiodome Before the Highrises Were Built - March 9th, 1991
http://youtu.be/7jAZrHdm1F0
But going back to the 1993 view - this is what it looked like just prior to beginning construction of the office towers, when they were carefully digging out old ruins. Presumably they carted the rocks and whatnot off and reconstructed them somewhere else, but I don't know where.
1990 Tamachi to Shinjuku - (900802)
http://youtu.be/PATR9vwPMR4
1990 Shinjuku Night, Etc. - (900802)
http://youtu.be/6rUzpFwYYDk
A bit on the long side maybe, but it captures some of the 1990 atmosphere of Shinjuku, which is a little different from 2012.
Inside Bookstore (120814)
http://youtu.be/Acy9iG1hIMk
Shinjuku - Entering Book Store Building (120814)
http://youtu.be/2hB993vKzVI
Group Exhibition at GGICM (A) 120814
http://youtu.be/yjZnOO3rD58
Group Exhibition at GGICM (B) 120814
http://youtu.be/56sARASV7WE
The above two clips show an August 2012 group exhibition at Gallery Ginza 1-Chome.
Empty Space by Hibiya Park (New Construction Soon) 120814
http://youtu.be/rp46AtgqC80
Looking over where the Sanshin Building used to be - and where they are (apparently) planning to build a gargantuan office tower.
Sasaki Hisae 佐々木久枝 Calligraphy と Ikebana Exhibit (A) 120814
http://youtu.be/ir67uLhRj8k
Sasaki Hisae 佐々木久枝 Calligraphy と Ikebana Exhibit (B) 120814
http://youtu.be/ffNphwy7fzQ
Sasaki Hisae 佐々木久枝 Calligraphy と Ikebana Exhibit (C) 120814
http://youtu.be/5fWZY0iurjE
Takadanobaba - Seibu to Tozai - (120814)
http://youtu.be/Jy-mw0EUe1k
Southern Terrace Trees (120814)
http://youtu.be/ATAEfQmpaHU
Shinjuku Station - South Exit Area (120814)
http://youtu.be/1w4FscWfA68
Yurakucho to Shinagawa - Evening Yamanote Line (120814)
http://youtu.be/9LrfdkXYObk
Just looking out the window of the Yamanote Line - but even after all these years, I never find the ride boring. There is so much activity and things to see while making the trip.
Otemachi to Kyobashi (Tozai and Ginza Lines) - (120814)
http://youtu.be/eqPU8YPLn2M
1990 Nighttime Tabata Area, Etc. - (900806)
http://youtu.be/F9IDPdUKA1g
Shinagawa to Shinjuku - Evening Yamanote Line (120814)
http://youtu.be/YRMVhQpyigk
Another fairly long Yamanote Line ride.
Yurakucho Station - Hibiya Exit (120814)
http://youtu.be/7N5ZpyVzifA
Ginza 4-Chome and Harumi Dori 銀座四丁目と晴海通り (120814)
http://youtu.be/bguIBq6o5Rk
Harumi-Dori Stroll - (120814)
http://youtu.be/MuPcbW6QF18
Streetside Aquarium (A) - Ginza Sony Building (120814)
http://youtu.be/7k5URlSd_Tk
Streetside Aquarium (B) - Ginza Sony Building (120814)
http://youtu.be/GJW-ELZUwJQ
The concept is certainly interesting - live tropical fish near a busy Ginza intersection - but when I tried taking some photos and videos, they didn't turn out very well.
Yurakucho Evening Stroll 120814
http://youtu.be/EuG36MS3Ii8
Yurakucho Station Entrance and Platform 120814
http://youtu.be/L5vO5oXHwGc
Shinjuku Evening Street - South to East (120814)
http://youtu.be/VPBMvkyyb-s
1990 Tamachi Lunchtime People (900806)
http://youtu.be/y_nNQso8NGg
Fashions and hairstyles have changed a bit in the last 22 years....
Shinjuku East Side Stroll (Evening) 120814
http://youtu.be/t3640EnVf7g
1990 Tabata Station at Night - (900806)
http://youtu.be/9Bm3i2M7HZk
Evening Street by Shinjuku Station South Exit (120814)
http://youtu.be/A_HgPbF4uQA
Shinjuku Platform Walk - Yamanote Line (120814)
http://youtu.be/gLC0s18d1M8
Evening Southern Terrace to Bridge - (120814g)
http://youtu.be/UGlcDMDid_4
I didn't have high expectations when I began recording this clip, but it turned out to have some decent scenes. I like the twilight views from the middle of the pedestrian bridge.
Insect and Car Noises 120817
http://youtu.be/-JQhHM39Yd4
Waving Construction Sign 120816
http://youtu.be/FX8TqSLjaBE
Seto Tadashi 瀬戸但し Installation at Gallery Camellia ギャラリーカメリア (A) 120816
http://youtu.be/zwMNSMjX4hk
Seto Tadashi 瀬戸但し Installation at Gallery Camellia ギャラリーカメリア (B) 120816
http://youtu.be/pfYD-VMboxY
Billboard (and Music) Advertising Truck in Ginza (120816)
http://youtu.be/vZ1FRItptBA
Ginza Evening Side Streets 120816
http://youtu.be/zuFUekZaMYk
Nihonbashi Old Restaurant 120816
http://youtu.be/Q7EgKtouDfo
The everything-old-must-be-destroyed Godzilla monster is busy tearing down old buildings in Kyobashi and Nihonbashi, but a few old buildings are still left. This two-story old wooden building is the type of structure the city used to be full of.
Yurakucho Evening Plaza 120816
http://youtu.be/mr0zAhyTvHY
Yurakucho Zebra Crosswalks 120816
http://youtu.be/pH38OH3BnuE
1990 Old Wooden Apartment Bldg in Tabata (900807)
http://youtu.be/LesqD74-OKM
This type of old wooden building probably really isn't very safe from a fire (and probably earthquake) perspective, but wooden buildings like this have so much more character than concrete ones!
1990 Tabata Hot Afternoon Walkabout 田畑 (900807)
http://youtu.be/UI2DFAnTD5E
1990 Nihonbashi Evening - (900820)
http://youtu.be/0TKWOD_iG0g
1990 Shinjuku Department Store Restaurants - (900816)
http://youtu.be/5nHf3qBLNao
1990 Shinjuku Elevator Operator - (900816)
http://youtu.be/DEf_dknM9Bs
1990 Shinjuku Indoor Scenes, Etc. - (900816)
http://youtu.be/xgnx-xZqjcc
1990 Shinjuku Station Area Stores - (900816)
http://youtu.be/vFU1_rHaR0Q
1990 Tamachi Lunchtime, Etc. - (900820)
http://youtu.be/1VQvBjUSWwc
1990 Tamachi to Tokyo - Keihin-Tohoku Line - (900820)
http://youtu.be/Pqva9V32dSM
A quick warning about the next two video clips - I've not had very good luck with playing them, so be forewarned. Hopefully they'll play for you if you try the links. The original files are fine - it's just the uploaded versions I'm having trouble getting to play - I think it's just congested network conditions or something, but thought I should mention it nevertheless (if it's happened repeatedly to me, presumably it could happen to someone else as well).
Takadanobaba Walkabout (A) 120816
https://vimeo.com/47712802
Takadanobaba Walkabout (B) 120816
http://vimeo.com/47712803
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
I'll comment after some of the video titles and links below.
1990 Shinjuku Rooftop Beer Garden - (900816)
http://youtu.be/wYe0RtMzKOo
There are still rooftop beer gardens in Tokyo, but not nearly as many as there used to be. Regarding a difference between then and now (to a degree anyway), as a viewer commented, just about all the men are wearing white shirts. It was in the bubble years (of which this is the tail end, when things were just beginning to slide), that some people began to wear colored shirts, but even now, probably there are more people wearing white shirts here than in many countries.
1990 Udon と Soba Ticket Machine (900806)
http://youtu.be/pGxpsfQOt74
1993 Shiodome Archaeological Dig - (930624)
http://youtu.be/HS-lX8-PyS4
Before the many office towers went up in Shiodome, this was undeveloped land. It used to be a rail freight yard, after which the rails were ripped out and it was used for model homes, a circus, a small amusement park, etc. I visited it during this time period in 1991:
Shiodome Before the Highrises Were Built - March 9th, 1991
http://youtu.be/7jAZrHdm1F0
But going back to the 1993 view - this is what it looked like just prior to beginning construction of the office towers, when they were carefully digging out old ruins. Presumably they carted the rocks and whatnot off and reconstructed them somewhere else, but I don't know where.
1990 Tamachi to Shinjuku - (900802)
http://youtu.be/PATR9vwPMR4
1990 Shinjuku Night, Etc. - (900802)
http://youtu.be/6rUzpFwYYDk
A bit on the long side maybe, but it captures some of the 1990 atmosphere of Shinjuku, which is a little different from 2012.
Inside Bookstore (120814)
http://youtu.be/Acy9iG1hIMk
Shinjuku - Entering Book Store Building (120814)
http://youtu.be/2hB993vKzVI
Group Exhibition at GGICM (A) 120814
http://youtu.be/yjZnOO3rD58
Group Exhibition at GGICM (B) 120814
http://youtu.be/56sARASV7WE
The above two clips show an August 2012 group exhibition at Gallery Ginza 1-Chome.
Empty Space by Hibiya Park (New Construction Soon) 120814
http://youtu.be/rp46AtgqC80
Looking over where the Sanshin Building used to be - and where they are (apparently) planning to build a gargantuan office tower.
Sasaki Hisae 佐々木久枝 Calligraphy と Ikebana Exhibit (A) 120814
http://youtu.be/ir67uLhRj8k
Sasaki Hisae 佐々木久枝 Calligraphy と Ikebana Exhibit (B) 120814
http://youtu.be/ffNphwy7fzQ
Sasaki Hisae 佐々木久枝 Calligraphy と Ikebana Exhibit (C) 120814
http://youtu.be/5fWZY0iurjE
Takadanobaba - Seibu to Tozai - (120814)
http://youtu.be/Jy-mw0EUe1k
Southern Terrace Trees (120814)
http://youtu.be/ATAEfQmpaHU
Shinjuku Station - South Exit Area (120814)
http://youtu.be/1w4FscWfA68
Yurakucho to Shinagawa - Evening Yamanote Line (120814)
http://youtu.be/9LrfdkXYObk
Just looking out the window of the Yamanote Line - but even after all these years, I never find the ride boring. There is so much activity and things to see while making the trip.
Otemachi to Kyobashi (Tozai and Ginza Lines) - (120814)
http://youtu.be/eqPU8YPLn2M
1990 Nighttime Tabata Area, Etc. - (900806)
http://youtu.be/F9IDPdUKA1g
Shinagawa to Shinjuku - Evening Yamanote Line (120814)
http://youtu.be/YRMVhQpyigk
Another fairly long Yamanote Line ride.
Yurakucho Station - Hibiya Exit (120814)
http://youtu.be/7N5ZpyVzifA
Ginza 4-Chome and Harumi Dori 銀座四丁目と晴海通り (120814)
http://youtu.be/bguIBq6o5Rk
Harumi-Dori Stroll - (120814)
http://youtu.be/MuPcbW6QF18
Streetside Aquarium (A) - Ginza Sony Building (120814)
http://youtu.be/7k5URlSd_Tk
Streetside Aquarium (B) - Ginza Sony Building (120814)
http://youtu.be/GJW-ELZUwJQ
The concept is certainly interesting - live tropical fish near a busy Ginza intersection - but when I tried taking some photos and videos, they didn't turn out very well.
Yurakucho Evening Stroll 120814
http://youtu.be/EuG36MS3Ii8
Yurakucho Station Entrance and Platform 120814
http://youtu.be/L5vO5oXHwGc
Shinjuku Evening Street - South to East (120814)
http://youtu.be/VPBMvkyyb-s
1990 Tamachi Lunchtime People (900806)
http://youtu.be/y_nNQso8NGg
Fashions and hairstyles have changed a bit in the last 22 years....
Shinjuku East Side Stroll (Evening) 120814
http://youtu.be/t3640EnVf7g
1990 Tabata Station at Night - (900806)
http://youtu.be/9Bm3i2M7HZk
Evening Street by Shinjuku Station South Exit (120814)
http://youtu.be/A_HgPbF4uQA
Shinjuku Platform Walk - Yamanote Line (120814)
http://youtu.be/gLC0s18d1M8
Evening Southern Terrace to Bridge - (120814g)
http://youtu.be/UGlcDMDid_4
I didn't have high expectations when I began recording this clip, but it turned out to have some decent scenes. I like the twilight views from the middle of the pedestrian bridge.
Insect and Car Noises 120817
http://youtu.be/-JQhHM39Yd4
Waving Construction Sign 120816
http://youtu.be/FX8TqSLjaBE
Seto Tadashi 瀬戸但し Installation at Gallery Camellia ギャラリーカメリア (A) 120816
http://youtu.be/zwMNSMjX4hk
Seto Tadashi 瀬戸但し Installation at Gallery Camellia ギャラリーカメリア (B) 120816
http://youtu.be/pfYD-VMboxY
Billboard (and Music) Advertising Truck in Ginza (120816)
http://youtu.be/vZ1FRItptBA
Ginza Evening Side Streets 120816
http://youtu.be/zuFUekZaMYk
Nihonbashi Old Restaurant 120816
http://youtu.be/Q7EgKtouDfo
The everything-old-must-be-destroyed Godzilla monster is busy tearing down old buildings in Kyobashi and Nihonbashi, but a few old buildings are still left. This two-story old wooden building is the type of structure the city used to be full of.
Yurakucho Evening Plaza 120816
http://youtu.be/mr0zAhyTvHY
Yurakucho Zebra Crosswalks 120816
http://youtu.be/pH38OH3BnuE
1990 Old Wooden Apartment Bldg in Tabata (900807)
http://youtu.be/LesqD74-OKM
This type of old wooden building probably really isn't very safe from a fire (and probably earthquake) perspective, but wooden buildings like this have so much more character than concrete ones!
1990 Tabata Hot Afternoon Walkabout 田畑 (900807)
http://youtu.be/UI2DFAnTD5E
1990 Nihonbashi Evening - (900820)
http://youtu.be/0TKWOD_iG0g
1990 Shinjuku Department Store Restaurants - (900816)
http://youtu.be/5nHf3qBLNao
1990 Shinjuku Elevator Operator - (900816)
http://youtu.be/DEf_dknM9Bs
1990 Shinjuku Indoor Scenes, Etc. - (900816)
http://youtu.be/xgnx-xZqjcc
1990 Shinjuku Station Area Stores - (900816)
http://youtu.be/vFU1_rHaR0Q
1990 Tamachi Lunchtime, Etc. - (900820)
http://youtu.be/1VQvBjUSWwc
1990 Tamachi to Tokyo - Keihin-Tohoku Line - (900820)
http://youtu.be/Pqva9V32dSM
A quick warning about the next two video clips - I've not had very good luck with playing them, so be forewarned. Hopefully they'll play for you if you try the links. The original files are fine - it's just the uploaded versions I'm having trouble getting to play - I think it's just congested network conditions or something, but thought I should mention it nevertheless (if it's happened repeatedly to me, presumably it could happen to someone else as well).
Takadanobaba Walkabout (A) 120816
https://vimeo.com/47712802
Takadanobaba Walkabout (B) 120816
http://vimeo.com/47712803
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
"Summer Festival" と "Fireworks Over Water" - (August 2012)
"Fireworks Over Water"
Copyright 2012 by Lyle H Saxon
)
"Summer Festival" - (August 2012)
Copyright 2012 by Lyle H Saxon
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
"Trying to Conceptualize Time..."
I'm still reading (bit by bit, as I have time) "A Naturalist's Voyage Round the World" by Charles Darwin, M.A., F.R.S. (relating his 1831-36 voyage around the world on the Beagle). The following paragraph brings to mind a scale not usually contemplated. And to think how quickly bipeds are damaging the planet....
"It required little geological practice to interpret the marvellous story which this scene at once unfolded; though I confess I was at first so much astonished that I could scarcely believe the plainest evidence. I saw the spot where a cluster of fine trees once waved their branches on the shores of the Atlantic, when that ocean (now driven back 700 miles) came to the foot of the Andes. I saw that they had sprung from a volcanic soil which had been raised above the level of the sea, and that subsequently this dry land, with its upright trees, had been let down into the depths of the ocean. In these depths, the formerly dry land was covered by sedimentary beds, and these again by enormous streams of submarine lava—one such mass attaining the thickness of a thousand feet; and these deluges of molten stone and aqueous deposits five times alternately had been spread out. The ocean which received such thick masses must have been profoundly deep; but again the subterranean forces exerted themselves, and I now beheld the bed of that ocean, forming a chain of mountains more than seven thousand feet in height. Nor had those antagonistic forces been dormant, which are always at work wearing down the surface of the land; the great piles of strata had been intersected by many wide valleys, and the trees, now changed into silex, were exposed projecting from the volcanic soil, now changed into rock, whence formerly, in a green and budding state, they had raised their lofty heads. Now, all is utterly irreclaimable and desert; even the lichen cannot adhere to the stony casts of former trees. Vast, and scarcely comprehensible as such changes must ever appear, yet they have all occurred within a period, recent when compared with the history of the Cordillera; and the Cordillera itself is absolutely modern as compared with many of the fossiliferous strata of Europe and America."
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
"It required little geological practice to interpret the marvellous story which this scene at once unfolded; though I confess I was at first so much astonished that I could scarcely believe the plainest evidence. I saw the spot where a cluster of fine trees once waved their branches on the shores of the Atlantic, when that ocean (now driven back 700 miles) came to the foot of the Andes. I saw that they had sprung from a volcanic soil which had been raised above the level of the sea, and that subsequently this dry land, with its upright trees, had been let down into the depths of the ocean. In these depths, the formerly dry land was covered by sedimentary beds, and these again by enormous streams of submarine lava—one such mass attaining the thickness of a thousand feet; and these deluges of molten stone and aqueous deposits five times alternately had been spread out. The ocean which received such thick masses must have been profoundly deep; but again the subterranean forces exerted themselves, and I now beheld the bed of that ocean, forming a chain of mountains more than seven thousand feet in height. Nor had those antagonistic forces been dormant, which are always at work wearing down the surface of the land; the great piles of strata had been intersected by many wide valleys, and the trees, now changed into silex, were exposed projecting from the volcanic soil, now changed into rock, whence formerly, in a green and budding state, they had raised their lofty heads. Now, all is utterly irreclaimable and desert; even the lichen cannot adhere to the stony casts of former trees. Vast, and scarcely comprehensible as such changes must ever appear, yet they have all occurred within a period, recent when compared with the history of the Cordillera; and the Cordillera itself is absolutely modern as compared with many of the fossiliferous strata of Europe and America."
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
Sunday, August 12, 2012
"Shinjuku Southern Terrace (2012)"
"Shinjuku Southern Terrace (2012)"
Copyright 2012 by Lyle H Saxon
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
"1993 Sendai, Ichinoseki, Iwate; 1992 Sydney; 1990 Ebisu, Hiro; 2012 Natsu-Matsuri, Etc."
Lot's of time traveling in this batch of video clips, from 1990 in a few clips taken on August 3rd, 1990, when I walked from Ebisu over to the other side of the Yamanote Line, to 1992 when I visited Sydney Australia, to 1993 when I drove up to Sendai and Ichinoseki, and of course 2012, which consists of modern Tokyo train scenes and visits to art galleries in Kyobashi and Ginza. There is such a wide range of material this time, I'll skip attempting to say much of anything at the top here and make some comments underneath titles I feel are deserving of some explanation.
1993 Tokyo to Sendai Drive (Route-4) 930805-06
http://youtu.be/UBKXA0fbv_4
Having heard that there is a famous version of the Tanabata Festival in Sendai, I rented a Honda Civic (just a basic model without frills and with something like a 1400cc engine, but a great car!) and drove up from Tokyo. The drive was interesting. One thing that really surprised me along the way was discovering (when I got lost) that there were two parallel highways with exactly the same name!! Route-4, it turns out, splits at one point, and since it rejoins (eventually, after many kilometers), it was apparently thought a great idea to name both versions of the spit with the exact same name! (I would think something like Route-4a and Route-4b would have been nice...)
In any event, I eventually arrived in Sendai, found somewhere to park the car, and walked around for awhile to see the festival. They had impressively large displays hanging from the two-story roofs of roofed shopping malls, which is certainly practical, but the combination of being basically inside a building (enclosed except on the ends - like a tunnel) and the fact that there were hordes of other tourists there (for the same reason as I...), made it a bit stressful, so I didn't stay long and headed up further north. Later in the day, I arrived at Ichinoseki just before evening (see next video).
1993 Ichinoseki Tanabata-Matsuri 一関七夕祭り (930806g)
http://youtu.be/oeXG1Qtcvs8
After not being happy under a roof and in mainly enclosed spaces in Sendai, once I got to Ichinoseki, parked the car, and found myself on an outdoor street which was set up to celebrate the Tanabata Festival, I found myself quite energized and happy to be out in the open, under the sky, in the wind, walking through the hanging decorations suspended from bamboo poles on either side of the street. It only partly shows in the video, but the total effect of having direct contact with the sky and wind - and walking through the hanging decorations blowing in the wind - was magical. As it got dark, they announced that there would be a fireworks display nearby, so I went to that (which is contained in the "Ichinoseki Tanabata-Matsuri" video, and also isolated as an individual clip via the following link).
1993 Ichinoseki Hanabi Fireworks 一関花火 - (930806)
http://youtu.be/9z0ls_mvO88
1993 Iwate Drive, Etc - (930807) 岩手ドライブなど
http://youtu.be/DhuW_SoYtwc
After getting a little sleep in Ichinoseki, I headed up north again - further into Iwate Prefecture (岩手県).
Kanda to Tokyo (Chuo and Yamanote Lines) - (120730)
http://youtu.be/eb-55siJUuo
Night Ride (Yurakucho to Kanda) - Yamanote and Chuo Lines - (120730)
http://youtu.be/3OxESD2lgGI
Night Train Arriving - (120730)
http://youtu.be/JN1t8sf3cho
Chuo Line - Inside View (120730)
http://youtu.be/sz9SnWhDkq4
1993 Shinjuku Summer Afternoon (930706)
http://youtu.be/UbCE8rc_7Xw
1993 Shinjuku Late Afternoon (930706)
http://youtu.be/XOAwWD3wlaM
1990 Machida, Ebisu and Hiro (August) - (900803)
http://youtu.be/uyXoyqVYtrk
I was glad to find this material, as I had forgotten that I had ever ventured out from the east side exit of Ebisu Station. I'd see (in old pictures and video material) the old bridge over the tracks and think "I wish I'd gone over there before this area was developed - while that bridge was still there", and so when I looked at one of my old tapes from August 1990, I was quite happy to suddenly see myself walking over the bridge and out the east side exit! Much more so than with still photographs, old videos really do sometimes feel just like a time machine - especially when it's material that you've taken yourself! Since you really have been there, but didn't remember - it's about as close to having a time machine as you can get without actually having a time machine I suppose!
1990 Hiro Azabu Hamamatsucho (August) - (900803)
http://youtu.be/Pa8wGgjkAH4
A big surprise for me in (re)watching/visiting the side of HIro closest to Ebisu in this 1990 material, was discovering/remembering that there were old wooden houses with small metalworks factories in them - the last remnants of the postwar economy that supported so many small parts-makers like this. It was also surprising, as Hiro is now known as an exclusive area, so seeing old wooden houses very similar to the ones in old shitamachi seemed strange when seen in Hiro. (Well - more to the point, seemed strange under the brand name "Hiro"!)
1990 Shinjuku Camera Crew (900713)
http://youtu.be/XjQ5VK6lO8k
1992 Jp-Tour: Brisbane, Surfers Paradise (from Sydney) 920416
http://youtu.be/P3yLt5bAV0A
1992 Sydney and Trip to Katoomba - (920415)
http://youtu.be/1r1_7Bx_lwE
1992 Sydney (Trains, Nighttime Ferry) 920413
http://youtu.be/6hGUApyJzOU
1992 Sydney Trains, Etc. (920414)
http://youtu.be/8oQCcgyQA7E
Art Space Ginza One アートスペース銀座ワン (Hallway) July 30th, 2012 (A) 120730
http://youtu.be/xKAKLKfIxMI
Art Space Ginza One アートスペース銀座ワン (Hallway) July 30th, 2012 (B) 120730
http://youtu.be/x7q7LXSoS5k
Art Space Ginza One アートスペース銀座ワン (Hallway) July 30th, 2012 (C) 120730
http://youtu.be/P_CrQg1mzfc
Nashimoto Youz 梨本柚子 Amore Ginza Gallery アモーレ銀座ギャラリー (A) 120730
http://youtu.be/AcLNsbc1IZk
Nashimoto Youz 梨本柚子 Amore Ginza Gallery アモーレ銀座ギャラリー (B) 120730
http://youtu.be/nsUjjqM2OUE
Sawada Ken 澤田賢 Art Space Rondo アートスペースロンド (120730)
http://youtu.be/0j-EIESe_xw
Tsuboshima Yuki 坪島悠貴 Exhibition at Gallery Ginza Forest - (120731)
http://youtu.be/XDgecKv6UxY
Ginza-One Tokyo-Ten サロンど東京展 2012年8月 August Exhibition (120731)
http://youtu.be/vgp4kuLagwo
Double Decker Advertisement Bus (in Tokyo) 120731
http://youtu.be/JddFQmQpP4M
Shinjuku Platform Scene - Outbound Chuo Line - (120731)
http://youtu.be/t8Ps2nGtXsY
Tokyo to Shinjuku - Nighttime Chuo Line - (120731)
http://youtu.be/tr4m1JTnDbE
Shinjuku South Exit - July 31st, 2012 (120731)
http://youtu.be/ISlZA_8IMsM
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (A) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/exyw4C1FqiA
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (B) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/EVGWhyIt6Gw
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (C) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/bVyhN4T4qds
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (D) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/Zk0F16ymtWM
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (E) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/6xP3yBj04GE
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (F) 120804g 花火
http://youtu.be/hdvFguiHR7A
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (G) 120804g 花火
http://youtu.be/77by3jqECWk
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (H) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/8MIMVg-Efb0
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (I) 120804 Convenience Store 花火
http://youtu.be/514XpGnCJ70
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (J) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/Uw9KqmUADwA
Nihonbashi to Kyobashi 120807
http://youtu.be/8OEWX-ftxRA
Long Internal-Combustion Engine Vehicle and Summer Clouds (120807)
http://youtu.be/RMA1pkELIzI
Hot Day Air Conditioner Noise in Kyobashi 120807
http://youtu.be/xrn1l_hMJ7c
Kyobashi Side Street Construction Site 120807
http://youtu.be/150z2VJ0SaA
Summer Evening Clouds 120807
http://youtu.be/ARWztVIytmc
Yurakucho Plaza - August 2012 - (120807)
http://youtu.be/AiWuMQZepII
Yurakucho to Tokyo 120807
http://youtu.be/hKIVkpRgQaI
Shinjuku Chuo Line Platform (Night) - 120807
http://youtu.be/KAPI3XLh-dA
Departing Shinjuku (Outbound Night Train) - 120807
http://youtu.be/nNII71gBQOU
Shinjuku Station (South Exit Area) - 120807
http://youtu.be/Em8KiqY0odQ
Watching Trains Pass by at Night (Shinjuku) - 120807
http://youtu.be/_cvljCqzeKk
Tokyo to Shinjuku (Evening Chuo Line) - 120807g
http://youtu.be/_-r3Yk1n6os
Night Coffee Reflections (Shinjuku) - 120807
http://youtu.be/9FhGReEeae8
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
1993 Tokyo to Sendai Drive (Route-4) 930805-06
http://youtu.be/UBKXA0fbv_4
Having heard that there is a famous version of the Tanabata Festival in Sendai, I rented a Honda Civic (just a basic model without frills and with something like a 1400cc engine, but a great car!) and drove up from Tokyo. The drive was interesting. One thing that really surprised me along the way was discovering (when I got lost) that there were two parallel highways with exactly the same name!! Route-4, it turns out, splits at one point, and since it rejoins (eventually, after many kilometers), it was apparently thought a great idea to name both versions of the spit with the exact same name! (I would think something like Route-4a and Route-4b would have been nice...)
In any event, I eventually arrived in Sendai, found somewhere to park the car, and walked around for awhile to see the festival. They had impressively large displays hanging from the two-story roofs of roofed shopping malls, which is certainly practical, but the combination of being basically inside a building (enclosed except on the ends - like a tunnel) and the fact that there were hordes of other tourists there (for the same reason as I...), made it a bit stressful, so I didn't stay long and headed up further north. Later in the day, I arrived at Ichinoseki just before evening (see next video).
1993 Ichinoseki Tanabata-Matsuri 一関七夕祭り (930806g)
http://youtu.be/oeXG1Qtcvs8
After not being happy under a roof and in mainly enclosed spaces in Sendai, once I got to Ichinoseki, parked the car, and found myself on an outdoor street which was set up to celebrate the Tanabata Festival, I found myself quite energized and happy to be out in the open, under the sky, in the wind, walking through the hanging decorations suspended from bamboo poles on either side of the street. It only partly shows in the video, but the total effect of having direct contact with the sky and wind - and walking through the hanging decorations blowing in the wind - was magical. As it got dark, they announced that there would be a fireworks display nearby, so I went to that (which is contained in the "Ichinoseki Tanabata-Matsuri" video, and also isolated as an individual clip via the following link).
1993 Ichinoseki Hanabi Fireworks 一関花火 - (930806)
http://youtu.be/9z0ls_mvO88
1993 Iwate Drive, Etc - (930807) 岩手ドライブなど
http://youtu.be/DhuW_SoYtwc
After getting a little sleep in Ichinoseki, I headed up north again - further into Iwate Prefecture (岩手県).
Kanda to Tokyo (Chuo and Yamanote Lines) - (120730)
http://youtu.be/eb-55siJUuo
Night Ride (Yurakucho to Kanda) - Yamanote and Chuo Lines - (120730)
http://youtu.be/3OxESD2lgGI
Night Train Arriving - (120730)
http://youtu.be/JN1t8sf3cho
Chuo Line - Inside View (120730)
http://youtu.be/sz9SnWhDkq4
1993 Shinjuku Summer Afternoon (930706)
http://youtu.be/UbCE8rc_7Xw
1993 Shinjuku Late Afternoon (930706)
http://youtu.be/XOAwWD3wlaM
1990 Machida, Ebisu and Hiro (August) - (900803)
http://youtu.be/uyXoyqVYtrk
I was glad to find this material, as I had forgotten that I had ever ventured out from the east side exit of Ebisu Station. I'd see (in old pictures and video material) the old bridge over the tracks and think "I wish I'd gone over there before this area was developed - while that bridge was still there", and so when I looked at one of my old tapes from August 1990, I was quite happy to suddenly see myself walking over the bridge and out the east side exit! Much more so than with still photographs, old videos really do sometimes feel just like a time machine - especially when it's material that you've taken yourself! Since you really have been there, but didn't remember - it's about as close to having a time machine as you can get without actually having a time machine I suppose!
1990 Hiro Azabu Hamamatsucho (August) - (900803)
http://youtu.be/Pa8wGgjkAH4
A big surprise for me in (re)watching/visiting the side of HIro closest to Ebisu in this 1990 material, was discovering/remembering that there were old wooden houses with small metalworks factories in them - the last remnants of the postwar economy that supported so many small parts-makers like this. It was also surprising, as Hiro is now known as an exclusive area, so seeing old wooden houses very similar to the ones in old shitamachi seemed strange when seen in Hiro. (Well - more to the point, seemed strange under the brand name "Hiro"!)
1990 Shinjuku Camera Crew (900713)
http://youtu.be/XjQ5VK6lO8k
1992 Jp-Tour: Brisbane, Surfers Paradise (from Sydney) 920416
http://youtu.be/P3yLt5bAV0A
1992 Sydney and Trip to Katoomba - (920415)
http://youtu.be/1r1_7Bx_lwE
1992 Sydney (Trains, Nighttime Ferry) 920413
http://youtu.be/6hGUApyJzOU
1992 Sydney Trains, Etc. (920414)
http://youtu.be/8oQCcgyQA7E
Art Space Ginza One アートスペース銀座ワン (Hallway) July 30th, 2012 (A) 120730
http://youtu.be/xKAKLKfIxMI
Art Space Ginza One アートスペース銀座ワン (Hallway) July 30th, 2012 (B) 120730
http://youtu.be/x7q7LXSoS5k
Art Space Ginza One アートスペース銀座ワン (Hallway) July 30th, 2012 (C) 120730
http://youtu.be/P_CrQg1mzfc
Nashimoto Youz 梨本柚子 Amore Ginza Gallery アモーレ銀座ギャラリー (A) 120730
http://youtu.be/AcLNsbc1IZk
Nashimoto Youz 梨本柚子 Amore Ginza Gallery アモーレ銀座ギャラリー (B) 120730
http://youtu.be/nsUjjqM2OUE
Sawada Ken 澤田賢 Art Space Rondo アートスペースロンド (120730)
http://youtu.be/0j-EIESe_xw
Tsuboshima Yuki 坪島悠貴 Exhibition at Gallery Ginza Forest - (120731)
http://youtu.be/XDgecKv6UxY
Ginza-One Tokyo-Ten サロンど東京展 2012年8月 August Exhibition (120731)
http://youtu.be/vgp4kuLagwo
Double Decker Advertisement Bus (in Tokyo) 120731
http://youtu.be/JddFQmQpP4M
Shinjuku Platform Scene - Outbound Chuo Line - (120731)
http://youtu.be/t8Ps2nGtXsY
Tokyo to Shinjuku - Nighttime Chuo Line - (120731)
http://youtu.be/tr4m1JTnDbE
Shinjuku South Exit - July 31st, 2012 (120731)
http://youtu.be/ISlZA_8IMsM
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (A) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/exyw4C1FqiA
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (B) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/EVGWhyIt6Gw
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (C) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/bVyhN4T4qds
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (D) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/Zk0F16ymtWM
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (E) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/6xP3yBj04GE
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (F) 120804g 花火
http://youtu.be/hdvFguiHR7A
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (G) 120804g 花火
http://youtu.be/77by3jqECWk
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (H) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/8MIMVg-Efb0
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (I) 120804 Convenience Store 花火
http://youtu.be/514XpGnCJ70
Natsu-Matsuri Hanabi (J) 120804 花火
http://youtu.be/Uw9KqmUADwA
Nihonbashi to Kyobashi 120807
http://youtu.be/8OEWX-ftxRA
Long Internal-Combustion Engine Vehicle and Summer Clouds (120807)
http://youtu.be/RMA1pkELIzI
Hot Day Air Conditioner Noise in Kyobashi 120807
http://youtu.be/xrn1l_hMJ7c
Kyobashi Side Street Construction Site 120807
http://youtu.be/150z2VJ0SaA
Summer Evening Clouds 120807
http://youtu.be/ARWztVIytmc
Yurakucho Plaza - August 2012 - (120807)
http://youtu.be/AiWuMQZepII
Yurakucho to Tokyo 120807
http://youtu.be/hKIVkpRgQaI
Shinjuku Chuo Line Platform (Night) - 120807
http://youtu.be/KAPI3XLh-dA
Departing Shinjuku (Outbound Night Train) - 120807
http://youtu.be/nNII71gBQOU
Shinjuku Station (South Exit Area) - 120807
http://youtu.be/Em8KiqY0odQ
Watching Trains Pass by at Night (Shinjuku) - 120807
http://youtu.be/_cvljCqzeKk
Tokyo to Shinjuku (Evening Chuo Line) - 120807g
http://youtu.be/_-r3Yk1n6os
Night Coffee Reflections (Shinjuku) - 120807
http://youtu.be/9FhGReEeae8
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/
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