Sunday, April 27, 2014

1992 Toyoko Line, Tama Zoo, Etc.; 2014 Sakura Views, Yamanote Line, Trains Here and There, Etc.

Looking at 1992 views of the Toyoko Line generates surprisingly strong feelings of nostalgia for me.  Cities change all the time of course, but there are some elements you don't expect to change, and the above-ground Toyoko Line station in Shibuya is definitely not something I expected to vanish!  The line is still in Shibuya of course - under ground now - but the station has been smashed to rubble and soon there will be new high-rise buildings, etc there.
Trying to reason out why there should be so much nostalgia attached to something like this, I come to the power of places to bring back memories of days gone by, and so the destruction of a memory-generating spot feels like a loss of the past itself?  Something like that....
And then - in the 1992 video showing going from Shibuya to Hiyoshi, there are three main points - Toyoko Shibuya Station, an old station with wooden beams, and then squeaky new Hiyoshi Station.  I didn't quite realize it at the time, but looking back now, it seems clear that it was a transition period between the Showa Era and the Heisei Era.

Hmm..... as soon as I typed "Heisei Era", I realized that I have never before used that term.  Using it, I stopped typing, stared at the screen for a minute and tried to imagine what "Heisei Era" represents exactly.  Time will tell.  It was the same way in the 1980's - the concept of "Showa Era" never crossed my mind, because it was current.  Now you hear "Showa Era" all the time, and the general theme is of steel and wood (or all wood) buildings - and the rebuilding of the economy after WW-II.

One more comment about 1992 - my visit to Tama Zoo on July 12th, 1992.  Looking at the young couples in the video who are visiting the zoo with their small children, it's hard to believe that they're middle-aged now and those tiny children are now adults - indeed some of them are likely parents themselves.  One generation ago....
Anyway - on to 2014!  Looking over the videos I've posted between March 25th, 2014 and April 17th, 2014, the main thing I'm struck with are train views here and there in Tokyo, as well as some views of this year's sakura trees.  I didn't put much effort into seeing the flowering trees this year, but did make a few trips to favorite hanami spots.

1992 京王線 夕方列車 Twilight Keio Line Window View 920711
http://youtu.be/3866CaWIkTQ

If you want to watch - as a batch - all the things I took on July 11th, 1992, search (on my YouTube page/channel) for "920711" and they should all come up.  I earlier posted from a different tape taken on that day, and have just gotten around to posting the continuation of that day which was recorded onto a different (Hi8) tape.

1992 明大前駅-渋谷駅 京王線 Meidaimae to Shibuya - Keio Line 920711
http://youtu.be/sOnYlEsl8Vk

1992 夜の渋谷 別の時代の雰囲気 Nighttime Shibuya Walkabout 920711
http://youtu.be/igEbUsTbbpA

Back in the early nineties, I took a number of different videos in Shibuya, but the side street atmosphere of the area near the Inokashira Line area of Shibuya Station is perhaps best captured in this one.

1992年の東急渋谷駅 Tokyu-Shibuya Station in 1992 - 920711
http://youtu.be/-Z5_ELCVYt4

I still can't believe that the above-ground Tokyu Shibuya Station is gone.  It comes as a shock/surprise every time I think about it.

1992 夜東急東横線 渋谷駅-日吉駅 Shibuya to Hiyoshi - Toyoko Line 920711
http://youtu.be/ABblM6YBIb4

How modern and new Hiyoshi Station seemed at the time!  Now that's just the normal design for stations all over Tokyo.

1992 日吉駅辺りドライブ Driving around near Hiyoshi Station 920711
http://youtu.be/kZNjBxQ64Wg

A view through the windshield of a car driving through the narrow streets of Hiyoshi late at night.  It was a Mitsubishi Pajero (called Montero in the US and Shogun in the UK), which was considered very cool at the time, but not by me actually... I've always hated off-road vehicles being re-marketed as "Sport-Utility-Vehicles" (SUV) and driven around on smooth city streets.  It was a successful, but dishonest marketing ploy (worldwide by most car manufacturers) to save car companies from having to go to the expense of bringing out new designs to fill that size category.

1992 日吉駅-新宿駅 Hiyoshi to Shinjuku - Late night trains 920711
http://youtu.be/mcgZsWssf2U

Concert Goers in Yotsuya Heading for Station at Night 140325
http://youtu.be/do4Xxu6wqNg

秋葉原駅のリベットゾーン Riveted Area in Akihabara Station 140328
http://youtu.be/H77TMnGeW2g

So little remains of the old station structures that I feel compelled to try to record images of the bits that remain.  This is one such area within Akihabara Station.

秋葉原駅-飯田橋駅 中央線各駅 Akihabara to Iidabashi - Local Chuo Line 140328
http://youtu.be/rVp31d7_ywE
Early Sakura at Chidorigafuchi 千鳥ヶ淵桜 早い時期 140328
http://youtu.be/7h3jOKbqqWA

Yotsuya Rampart Sakura Voices at Night 140328
http://youtu.be/tTIc38XM_4Q

It was too dark for clear pictures, but I thought the sound track of early sakura viewers (apparently university students) conveyed the season and the atmosphere somewhat.

御茶ノ水駅-神田駅 中央線 Ochanomizu to Kanda - Chuo Line 140325
http://youtu.be/hTOcQzm9z9Y

工事中神田駅 Kanda Station Under Construction 140325
http://youtu.be/aJlXE4iPsYU

Kanda to Yurakucho - Keihin-Tohoku Line 神田駅-有楽町駅 京浜東北線 140325
http://youtu.be/l_ar7RG7frQ

東京駅-御茶ノ水駅 中央線 Tokyo to Ochanomizu - Chuo Line 140325
http://youtu.be/6aSEkOkCl-E

新宿夕方横断歩道 Evening Shinjuku Crosswalk 140325
http://youtu.be/kHcO-FfyjSQ

Yotsuya Station - Ticket Gates to Platform 四ッ谷駅 改札口-ホーム 140325
http://youtu.be/jaXjTCK9LTg

Waiting for Train at Takadanobaba Station 高田馬場駅で電車を待ってる 140328
http://youtu.be/GJYe0HfFK6o

Twilight Sakura in Ueno Park 夕暮れの上野公園の桜 140331
http://youtu.be/9wkuGbihoW8

高田馬場駅-池袋駅 山手線 Takadanobaba to Ikebukuro - Yamanote Line 140328
http://youtu.be/_h9g863_PZ4

山手線FCビュー 大塚駅と巣鴨駅 Yamanote Line FC-View - Otsuka and Sugamo 140328
http://youtu.be/0AZe_w6iOp4

山手線FCビュー巣鴨駅-上野駅 Yamanote Line FC View - Sugamo to Ueno 140328
http://youtu.be/eSFmzcO_D7Y

上野駅 山手線ホームから出口まで Ueno Station - Platform to Exit 140328
http://youtu.be/X9qds5lcoUs

大崎駅エスカレーター Osaki Station Escalator 140328
http://youtu.be/BWhFmrrHEyM

Iidabashi Station - Platform to West Exit 飯田橋駅 ホームから西口改札まで 140328
http://youtu.be/XAyoAs9aSos

Food Stalls at Kudan-kita 九段北二丁目の桜時期の屋台店 140328
http://youtu.be/PAfxC7HTQ1U

Early Part of Sakura Season at Kudan-kita 夜の九段北二丁目 140328n
http://youtu.be/ozBeK81cmUw

夜の九段北二丁目 Early Part of Sakura Season at Kudan-kita 140328n
http://youtu.be/Apg2amCF7Ug

Exiting Kudan-kita during Early Part of Sakura Viewing Season 140328
http://youtu.be/_2RmRxALsSw

千鳥ヶ淵 影と桜 140328
http://youtu.be/aV-MnRdZsD8

Walking to Iidabashi Station at Night 夜で飯田橋駅西口まで歩く 140328
http://youtu.be/WZtK2ElnGbQ
飯田橋駅西口から電車乗るまで散歩 Iidabashi West Entrance 140328
http://youtu.be/QM2nNxqvLuE

各駅中央線 飯田橋駅辺りから四ッ谷駅まで Nighttime Local Chuo Line 140328
http://youtu.be/R9LAY5UgihI

Illuminated Sakura at Chidorigafuchi 千鳥ヶ淵の桜ライトアップ十時まで 140401g
http://youtu.be/OA83hdyiKEE

There are good places to see sakura trees all over Tokyo, but for seeing them illuminated at night, Chidorigafuchi is my favorite area.

桜花見時期の夜九段下駅 Night Kudanshita Station at Sakura Hanami Time 140401
http://youtu.be/WVgY0LxSuig

九段下駅で東西線を乗る Boarding Tozai Line at Kudanshita 140401n
http://youtu.be/nMdrUhoRbG4

Tozai Line - Walking Up-Train 東西線の車内移動 140401n
http://youtu.be/4qKy3Zl8gKc

西武新宿線の高田馬場駅ホームの様子 Seibu Takadanobaba Platform Walk 140401
http://youtu.be/Nx-QkCoOBEY

高田馬場駅で西武新宿線の電車がやってくる Arriving Train at Takadanobaba 140401
http://youtu.be/M-0RchCetcQ

夜遅くの電車内 Late Night Outbound Train Headed for the Suburbs 140401
http://youtu.be/7knYcWt4-XU

上野公園の夕方花見 Evening Sakura in Ueno Park 140401
http://youtu.be/YoNFRorJLoo

Evening Sakura in Ueno Park 上野公園の夕方花見 140401
http://youtu.be/B-ucKSrzma8

上野駅の公園口からホームまで Ueno Station Koen-guchi Entrance 140401
http://youtu.be/KSuTQiZ7DJQ

上野駅-東京駅 夕暮れの京浜東北線 Ueno to Tokyo - Keihin-Tohoku Line 140401
http://youtu.be/tZ_eHNMCW0E

Keihin-Tohoku Line Train Departing Tokyo Station 東京駅京浜東北線 140401
http://youtu.be/9rkw1ZgZPwo

Entering Kudan-kita Area During Sakura Hanami Season 夜の九段北二丁目 140401
http://youtu.be/dO2_giGuhcQ
After 10PM Sakura Hanami Stroll at Chidorigafuchi 十時過ぎの千鳥ヶ淵花見 140401
http://youtu.be/7dxki-an8hA

Sakura Hanami Season Near Kudanshita Station 九段下駅辺りの桜花見 140401
http://youtu.be/ilCeabR891A

夜の桜花見の九段北二丁目散策散歩 Hanami Walkabout in Kudan-kita Area 140401
http://youtu.be/Qna-5oQ073Y

千鳥ヶ淵の美しい桜ライトアップ Illuminated Sakura at Chidorigafuchi 140401
http://youtu.be/hjSl-9uxEuo

Authentic Independent Izakaya - Just Before Closing Time 140402n
http://youtu.be/tBAjlb_x3rs

Older Type Seibu Line Train Noises at Station 電車の音 140402
http://youtu.be/uFocDqhz6Ak

春の三鷹駅ホーム 桜とか Sakura at Mitaka Station 140402
http://youtu.be/ZJnjIUugOiE

三鷹駅-荻窪駅 中央線 Mitaka to Ogikubo - Chuo Line 140402
http://youtu.be/plX1MmF8528

阿佐ヶ谷駅-中野駅 中央線 Asagaya to Nakano - Chuo Line 140402
http://youtu.be/wcfKtIqdLqc

中野-新宿 上り中央線 Nakano to Shinjuku - Inbound Chuo Line 140402
http://youtu.be/Wjhl-25bEJE

新宿駅-東京駅 中央線 Shinjuku to Tokyo - Chuo Line 140402
http://youtu.be/sGbe-x-fEmg
The Passageway 通路 140402
http://youtu.be/C1idiGC5wZc

Lobby to Street Level ロビーから外の道まで 140402
http://youtu.be/UlAIhvdzhyQ

Sakura Season Shop Tents in Hibiya Park 140402
http://youtu.be/Ph3_5_F_jj0

有楽町一丁目の春桜 Spring Sakura in Yurakucho 140402
http://youtu.be/DpLUdVeTgdw
ガード下の電車音 (ア) Overhead Train Sound in Yurakucho 140402
http://youtu.be/nUk6YM1ePk0

ガード下の電車音 (イ) Overhead Train Sound in Yurakucho 140402
http://youtu.be/Ub6RePnaME4

Sound of Shinkansen Passing Overhead Near Tokyo Station 140402
http://youtu.be/ym5PUUSNcQk

夜遅くの中央線 立川駅から出発 Departing Tachikawa Late at Night 140403
http://youtu.be/F3ATs5XvfY4

夜遅くの電車窓の反射 Late Night Train Window Reflections 140403n
http://youtu.be/O4dgB37Vjjs

春が来ました 桜万歳 Spring is Here 140402
http://youtu.be/9bCXqB56ii0

Tokyo Station Concourse at Lunchtime お昼東京駅の通路 140402
http://youtu.be/hmaJ5glSgJ0

Construction Area Opposite Hibiya Park 140402
http://youtu.be/Yq71PJgixGU

Edamame and a Drink in Yurakucho 140402
http://youtu.be/_lvfk5LO6x8

Yurakucho Springtime Sakura 有楽町春の桜花見 140402
http://youtu.be/31v5y7kVTwk

Ginza Night Stroll 銀座四丁目辺りの夜散歩 140402
http://youtu.be/k0rfT_Wg3As
Sakura in Small Ginza Park 銀座桜 銀座一丁目 140402
http://youtu.be/FiLmpQwaF40

日比谷公園 坂から見回る Hibiya Park 360 from Hill 140402
http://youtu.be/6TybtN_AZ-E
夕方の日比谷公園 春と桜 Springtime in Hibiya Park 140402
http://youtu.be/UTuoUMY3sTI

内幸町のエスカレーター Uchisaiwaicho Escalator Ride 140402
http://youtu.be/5hFSXi2tj1U
モダンエスカレーター 内幸町 Modern Escalator in Uchisaiwaicho 140402
http://youtu.be/Y-2KkJaNN88

Hibiya Park Corner Fountain と Sakura 日比谷公園角の噴水と桜花見 140402
http://youtu.be/eXnkMmLwWMI
Yurakucho Night Angles - Trains Lights and Shadows 140402
http://youtu.be/CKRC0l368B8

モダンビルのロビー Modern Building Lobby 140402
http://youtu.be/8fIkpvoyqDQ
Chuo Line View - Rainy Day 中央線 雨の日 140403
http://youtu.be/VUjZR16l5lk

Seibu Line Arriving at Ogawa Station 西武線 小川駅 140404
http://youtu.be/A_Bqr_Fkkr8

Climbing Stairs to Chuo Line Platform at Kunitachi 国立駅 140405
http://youtu.be/iR9MgNAVcSg

Midnight Empty Platform at Kunitachi Station 国立駅のミッドナイトホーム 140405
http://youtu.be/6v4SJke14V4

高田馬場駅-目白駅 山手線 Takadanobaba to Mejiro - Yamanote Line 140405
http://youtu.be/74uPxYdk98w

大塚駅ホームと山手線 Otsuka Station Platform and Train 140405
http://youtu.be/yyPY3SOmjrY

湘南新宿ライン東海道線直通特別快速 新宿駅から大崎駅まで SSLTCTK 140403
http://youtu.be/gYlpsIpRNgg

Shibuya Station - Floor Wall and Ceiling Advertising 渋谷駅広告 140407
http://youtu.be/fcLRQQB8kKw

Billboard advertising in Tokyo is declining fast.  There isn't really much point in it any more, as everyone is walking around with their eyes locked onto their cell-phone/computer screens and they never look up and see anything high up.  But this floor-walls-ceiling advertising was something you couldn't ignore/not see!

Likewise, small billboard advertising within train stations is on the decline, but in-your-face you-can't-ignore-this! advertising on the sides of trains is ever more common.

Sakura Flowers and Spring Green in Jiyugaoka 自由が丘桜 140407
http://youtu.be/zY0uyGq5Zhk

Street Level Train Passing Small Crossing in Jiyugaoka 自由が丘の踏切 140407
http://youtu.be/dzO2c0BjpUM

A view that is becoming rarer in Tokyo as railways are either elevated or put underground.

Jiyugaoka Station Platform Quick View 自由が丘駅ホームの一見 140407
http://youtu.be/dDX_dL_idI8

有楽町駅 山手線がやってくる Yamanote Line Arriving at Yurakucho 140407
http://youtu.be/zOTDLInIScU
目白駅-渋谷駅 山手線 Mejiro to Shibuya - Yamanote Line 140407
http://youtu.be/pOylvNzhPFY

Yurakucho Bridge Noises - Trains Passing by Overhead 有楽町の橋音 140407
http://youtu.be/moA96rW-Lz0

Boarding Yamanote Line at Uguisudani 鶯谷駅の山手線 140407
http://youtu.be/x3hWo1vOmcE

Empty Train Yard by Shinagawa Station 品川駅隣の眺め 140410
http://youtu.be/eXdjqQ0sDUo

東京駅山手線と京浜東北線ホーム Tokyo Station Afternoon Platform 140408
http://youtu.be/FpVwC_M4Jyo

大井町線の電車がやってくる Waiting for Oimachi Line Train 140408
http://youtu.be/aj0Tpflyx5k

FC-View of Arriving at Oimachi Station on Oimachi Line 大井町線 140408
http://youtu.be/UAVmYAprxVI

Kobori Reiko Exhibition 小堀令子展 Gallery Kazuki 画廊香月 140408
http://youtu.be/k5WKi2oWbas

Shinjuku Station - Waiting for a Train Late at Night 新宿駅ホーム 140408
http://youtu.be/gUbYdPV_w7c

Tokyo Station Etc Viewed from Marunouchi Building 丸の内ビル 140410
http://youtu.be/u6ve87dfIQ8

Tokyo to Tamachi - Yamanote Line 東京駅-田町駅 山手線 140410
http://youtu.be/96vJ-nSn6y4

Observation Area View - Tokyo Office Towers 東京の展望台眺め 140410
http://youtu.be/-dksHFAkC14

Internal Elevator Glass and Reflections - Tokyo Office Tower 140410
http://youtu.be/PM5WUk8X3Gg

Telephone Poles 140410
http://youtu.be/k9LI9ZooEOw

Construction Area Beside Kokubunji Station 国分寺駅隣の工事現場 140411
http://youtu.be/5AKIbB6qVb8

This redevelopment is interesting in how large of an area they were able to clear.  All of that empty space had buildings on it, so there was a lot to get out of the way.  From what I noticed in casually passing the area in past years, it was all (or nearly all) small businesses, so I suppose they were happy (and/or willing) to move for the right price.  High-rise towers are on the way....

Tamachi to Hamamatsucho - Keihin-Tohoku Line 田町駅-浜松町駅 京浜東北線 140411
http://youtu.be/AoBpUMZtGJw

Shinagawa to Tamachi - Keihin-Tohoku Line 品川駅-田町駅 京浜東北線 140411
http://youtu.be/AnvwLVhHpj8

Arriving at Takaosanguchi Station 高尾山口駅に到着 140414
http://youtu.be/lGJRoFkQM7I

Small Pond Near Mt Takao 高尾山近くの小さい池 140414
http://youtu.be/gEST0ulavxU

Twilight Near Mt Takao 夕暮れの高尾山近く 140414
http://youtu.be/lfqeFNZhWsw

Reserved Seat Express Train Passing Kokubunji 特急 国分寺駅 140417
http://youtu.be/wyHD2mFzYwI

Tamachi to Shinagawa - Keihin-Tohoku Line 田町駅-品川駅 京浜東北線 140417
http://youtu.be/a2zWiOigjYA

高尾山口駅-高尾駅-京王線 Takaosanguchi to Takao - Keio Line 140414g
http://youtu.be/GH4m3ORKirI

Local Train Leaving Siding at Nakano Station 夜の中野駅ホーム 140417
http://youtu.be/7MPBonPecCs

品川駅-田町駅 京浜東北線 Shinagawa to Tamachi - Keihin-Tohoku Line 140417
http://youtu.be/iGOHxP2DqCU
Tokyo to Tamachi - Keihin-Tohoku Line 東京駅-田町駅 京浜東北線 140417
http://youtu.be/Njn-rzxYttc

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/