"Night Bus, Hachioji, Ginza Exhibitions, Midnight Kokubunji, Takadanobaba, Etc."

More video clips, but first a comment on something I'm continually experiencing in these post 311 days.

"What did you think of the earthquake?", followed by "Are you leaving Japan?" is something I've been asked by far too many people.  Apparently there's been a lot of writing and talking in the media about how foreigners have fled the northern part of Japan post 311, combined with low coverage of the locals who have fled south to Osaka, etc., so when people see a non-native face, they seem to feel the urge to ask "So - what's your story?  Why are you still here?", but since that would be rude, they (with unnerving regularity and uniformity) give me the one-two punch of, 1) "What did you think of the earthquake?", followed by 2) "Are you leaving Japan?"  I've been answering as though those are normal questions, but I think I was asked them one too many times yesterday, so the next time someone asks me "What did you think of the earthquake?", I think I'll try jumping right to the heart of the matter by saying, "Well - that wasn't exactly fun, was it?  What do you think of Fukushima?"

Or not... I don't know.  I'll see how it goes.  Maybe people will stop asking me those two questions.

This batch of video clips begins with a bus ride at night to Hachioji Station, and then there are a couple of clips showing an exhibition by Matsumoto Tomoko (and the venue); a ride from Ogawa to Kodaira on a Seibu Line train; subway sounds on the Tozai Line; Nihonbashi to Kyobashi on the Ginza Line; a look at old tiles in the 1930's Meijiya Building; a quick listen to a midnight guitarist in Kokubunji; a look in a small park in Ginza 1-chome with its sakura trees in bloom; views of the Chuo Line; road scenes taken while waiting for a bus; Hachioji Station area; waiting for a Tozai Line train at Takadanobaba; walking down a side street in Ginza; two clips from art exhibitions; Yurakucho; Takadanobaba, and a few other things.

Night Bus Ride to Hachioji Station - (110420-1916)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqhEjbeFgPA

Riding a bus through the night to Hachioji Station.

Matsumoto Tomoko (松本智子) Exhibition at Y's Arts (A) - (110419-1544)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3hxbnOvaYU

Matsumoto Tomoko (松本智子) Exhibition at Y's Arts (B) - (110419-1741)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5bpxnL1TDw

Matsumoto Tomoko (松本智子) exhibition at Y's Arts in Room 508. (B)  This exhibition is from April 18-23, 2011.  The two prints are from the artist's past - taken a few decades apart....

The artist's website is:
http://tomokomatsumoto.cho-chin.com/

Y's Arts website is:
http://www.ysarts.net/

Ogawa to Kodaira (Low-Energy Mode) - (110419-1247)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNHHwm_NWwc

Riding a Seibu Line train from Ogawa to Kodaira during post 311 low energy mode (note stopped escalators and lights off in train).

Arrival of Express Train at Kodaira Station - (110419-1255)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldn5C_dRFDw

Watching an express train arrive at Kodaira Station.

Subway Sounds (Tozai Line) - (110419-1341)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzqV2_EDpKU

Listening to subway sounds on the Tozai Line while looking out into the dark tunnel.

Nihonbashi to Kyobashi (Ginza Line) - (110419-1343)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMS5hRVqrDE

Looking around at Nihonbashi Station and then taking a Ginza Line train to Kyobashi Station.

1930s Meijiya Building Tiles - (110419-1349)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuYRH4G5ccM

A look at the wall tiles in the 1930s Meijiya Building.

Kokubunji Midnight Guitarist - (110419-2338)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EslaRpYWmc0

Listening to a street musician singing while playing the guitar in midnight Kokubunji.

Ginza 1-Chome Park - (110419-1419)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMamXyKo2GA

Looking at sakura trees in a park in Ginza 1-Chome.

Arriving at Takao via Chuo Line - (110420-1416)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hucFaivISTk

Arriving at Takao Station via a Chuo Line train.

Walking Along Old Type JR Train - (110420-1421)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohuJM95DHDk

Walking along an old type JR train - listening to the different noises it makes compared with newer types.

Somewhere Near Hachioji - (110420-1820)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcVOTCkYoDI

Looking around on a lonely road somewhere near Hachioji.

Waiting for a Bus Somewhere Near Hachioji - (110420-1910)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6CKkDY8OUs

Waiting for a bus (somewhere near Hachioji) one evening.

Night Road Shadows and Noises - (110420-1913)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v3v0XBfEnw

Watching shadows and listening to noises on a night road.

Elevated Plaza at Hachioji Station - Night View - (110420-1935)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjOBZg7kPus

Looking around at a new elevated plaza at Hachioji Station one windy evening.

Elevated Walkways at Hachioji Station - (110420-1939)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkAixHlsdhM

Walking/looking around on elevated walkways at Hachioji Station.

Walking up to Ticket Gates at Hachioji Station - (110420-1942)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N_xiarJJsM

Walking up to the ticket gates at Hachioji Station at night.

Hachioji Station - Ticket Gates to Platform - (110420-1943)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDUIOeIKCTI

At Hachioji Station - walking from the ticket gates to the platform.

Inbound Chuo Line Train Arriving at Hachioji - (110420-1945)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqVYVIQMwbc

Watching an inbound Chuo Line train arriving at Hachioji.

Waiting for Tozai Line Train at Takadanobaba - (110426-1438)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4muadmqX2hM

Looking around on the platform while waiting for a Tozai Line Train at Takadanobaba Station.

Walking Down Ginza 1-Chome Side Street - (110426-1510)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reqkPpljWV0

Walking down a side street in Ginza, 1-Chome.

Cobra Chair - Kondo Masaki (近藤正樹) Y's Arts, Room-508 - (110426-1632)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuvX3pizEoM

Kondo Masaki (近藤正樹) at Y's Arts, Room-508, explaining his creation, the Cobra Chair.

Y's Arts website is:
http://www.ysarts.net/

Seino Yu (清野融) at Ono Gallery-2 (小野画廊-II) - (110426-1929)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD6PfWiv9to

Seino Yu (清野融) at Ono Gallery-2 (小野画廊-II), explaining part of his exhibition (in Japanese).

Ginza Chuo-Dori to Ginza Line - (110426-2018)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqQNXZeZFdk

Walking from Chuo-Dori in Ginza to the Ginza Line.

Shinkansen Rolling Through Yurakucho Night - (110426-2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPzLLMERXAs

Watching an outbound Shinkansen train going by Yurakucho in the late evening.

Takadanobaba Plaza Evening - (110426-2045)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_8FBhyju68

Walking around in Takadanobaba Plaza late one evening....

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

"Spring Has Arrived" - (110408)

"Spring Has Arrived" Copyright 2011 by LHS

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

"Gotanda, Sakura Trees in Nihonbashi, Akasaka, and Yotsuya, Etc."

Once the sakura tree blossoms come out, soon followed by green leaves, then you know that spring has arrived.  The cold weather isn't quite past, but some days are pleasantly warm, and the days get warmer overall.  I love spring, although early spring pollen allergies have taken a lot of the fun of the season away from me in recent years, and this 2011 spring of earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster in Japan isn't exactly the most conducive to optimism - still, you have to turn everything off even at the worst of times and just focus on the beauty of spring for at least one day out of the year....

This batch of video clips includes a trip to Gotanda, typical train views, and views of sakura trees.  The most pleasant sakura tree experience I had this year was walking along the top of the Yotsuya rampart one fine afternoon with a very blue sky overhead and perfectly pleasant temperatures.

Shinjuku to Gotanda via Yamanote Line - (110412-1444)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNeGyQYTuYg

Riding the Yamanote Line from Shinjuku to Gotanda.

Gotanda Station - Dark Mode - (110412-1509)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY8zm6YcXqI

Looking around the area by and inside Gotanda Station during post 3/11 dark mode.

Gotanda Station - Platform Over Road View - (110412-1513)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twjll7WYb_s

Standing on the JR Yamanote Line platform at Gotanda Station, looking out over the main road that passes under the platform.

Gotanda to Yurakucho via Yamanote Line - Front View - (110412-1515)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs5CW657tQU

Riding in the front of a Yamanote Line train from Gotanda to Yurakucho.

Yurakucho Station - Platform and Exit - (110412-1532)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I00BR-lcF_k

From the platform to the Ginza-side exit at Yurakucho Station.

Moriya Kennichiro (森谷謙一郎) Installation in 306 and 303 - (110412-1714)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RK8o2S2DHM

A look at two parts of Moriya Kennichiro (森谷謙一郎)'s three-part installation in Room-306, Room-303 (Kobo), and in the basement under-stairs Kobo space.

Project-306
http://306project.web.fc2.com/

Kobo Gallery
http://www.spinn-aker.co.jp/kobo.htm

Walking Through Tokyo Station - (110412-1922)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7SyVhi8v9c

Walking through Tokyo Station in the evening rush in post 3/11 semi-dark mode.

Shinjuku Station - Upper Level - (110412-1942)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcDv5MYJC1M

Walking through the upper level of Shinjuku Station in post 3/11 semi-dark mode.

Tokyo to Shinjuku via Nighttime Chuo Line - (110412-1925)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqLHHfNyqs0

Riding a Chuo Line train from Tokyo to Shinjuku in the evening.

Okuno Building Stroll - (110414-1713)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9qUIT_86n0

Exploring passageways in the Okuno Building.

Nihonbashi Sakura Trees-B - (110414-1605)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLKOMWNhWOk

Looking around on a sakura tree-lined street in Nihonbashi. (B)

Nihonbashi Sakura Trees-A - (110414-1600)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzKdpSvcLwQ

Looking around on a sakura tree-lined street in Nihonbashi. (A)

Moat Near Akasaka - (110414-1440)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PgFX1W5j3g

A look at a moat Near Akasaka.

Yotsuya to Ochanomizu - Afternoon Chuo Line - (110414-1542)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGY_cFJ9ffs

Riding an afternoon Chuo Line train from Yotsuya to Ochanomizu.

Ochanomizu to Tokyo - Afternoon Chuo Line - (110414-1548)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9SdXbtTFPI

Riding an afternoon Chuo Line train from Ochanomizu Station to Tokyo Station.

Yotsuya Chuo Line Platform - (110414-1540)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snO4cO8wCwM

Looking around on the Yotsuya Chuo Line platform while waiting for a train.

Exiting Tokyo Station via Daimaru Department Store - (110414-1555)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFUCDr8rS7Q

Exiting Tokyo Station and walking through part of Daimaru department store on the way out.

Former Akasaka Prince Hotel Sakura Trees - (110414-1449)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RO9YsieOTs

Former Akasaka Prince Hotel sakura trees.  Apparently this hotel was closed on March 31st, 2011 and is now being used as a refugee site after the March 11th earthquake.

Yotsuya Rampart Sakura Stroll - (110414-1506)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvthshNqoQA

Walking along the top of the old rampart at Yotsuya, checking out the sakura trees there on a nice day.

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

"Early Morning Shinjuku" - (101224-0732)

"Early Morning Shinjuku" Copyright 2010 by LHS

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

"Takaoka (タカオカ) Shoe Store" - (110307-1626)

Takaoka (タカオカ) Shoe Store

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://ginzalyle.blogspot.com/
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/

"Yurakucho, Sakura Blossoms, Hibiya Park Sakura, and 1991 Shinagawa and Ginza"

As people go about their daily lives a month since the March 11th, 2011 9.0 earthquake and tsunami disaster, the radiation leaking from the broken nuclear reactors at Fukushima has shifted slightly into the background of people's thinking, but it's a persistent dark cloud in people's consciousness nevertheless, and reading today that the government has expanded the exclusion zone around the broken reactors isn't exactly cause for optimism.

It affects daily actions in what is becoming a new routine, a new "normal": when it rains, you automatically assume that the rain is at least partly radioactive, and so always carry an umbrella to keep the contaminated rain(!) from coming in contact with your body.  I would have taken some sakura pictures yesterday in a light rain, but decided not to in order to minimize exposure to radioactivity.  Some will say that I have nothing to worry about, and they might even be right, but nevertheless, this way of thinking in Tokyo now is not unusual.

On to the videos - which are a mix of April 2011 Tokyo and 1991 Tokyo.  The last two clips in this batch - one showing 1991 Shinagawa, and the other showing 1991 Ginza, may well be interesting to anyone wanting to see what typical street scenes in those areas looked like at that time.  Anyone familiar with the current east exit (東口) of Shinagawa Station (品川駅) may be shocked at how radically different it was in 1991.  I recorded the scene with my own two hands, and I was still shocked when I watched the video 20 years after taking it - I was thinking "What's that rustic station I entered the train system at?" and then rewound the tape to listen to the bus announcement saying the station name and discovered/remembered with a shock that it was Shinagawa Station!  The west side of the station in 2011 looks much the same from the outside as in 1991, but the east side, which is in this video, is ultra-radically different!

The 2011 videos are of Yurakucho; a late-night view of Tachikawa Station; sakura trees in bloom at a temple; an empty (and long) escalator at Tokyo Station; a quick view of the construction on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station; and a few views in and near Hibiya Park, including of the sakura trees in the park.  The park doesn't have a particularly large number of them, but the ones it does have look nice, and since it's less crowded due to there not being a lot of sakura trees there, it actually ends up being a better place to view them than the typical popular spots where there are long rows of sakura trees - unless you want to see the crowds more than you want to see the trees!

Walking Towards Yurakucho Station - (110408-1729)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grMHVXvZ0ow

Walking towards Yurakucho Station in the evening.

Yurakucho Plaza and Stealth Speaker Car - (110408-1745)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXOZjydJyug

Walking across Yurakucho Plaza and by a stealth speaker car painted as a taxi....

Tachikawa Station Platform Late at Night - (110408-2346)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs7B--R3WZU

Looking around a Tachikawa Station platform late at night.

Sakura Blossoms at Temple - (110408-0712)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5luXBeNIZp8

Watching sakura pedals blowing in the wind at a temple.

Empty Escalator at Tokyo Station - (110408-1435)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEWZXff2i6o

Looking up and down an empty Chuo Line escalator at Tokyo Station.

Construction Around Tokyo Station - Marunouchi Side - (110408-1441)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7ZU7E9vb3A

A brief look at construction around Tokyo Station on the Marunouchi Side.

Hibiya Park Sakura Blossoms 2011-A - (110408-1616)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx1_MAsVwq4

Looking at some sakura blossoms in Hibiya Park (2011-A).

Sakura Blossoms with Chainsaw Background - (110408-1623)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hy9-jfdMaY

Looking at some sakura blossoms with chainsaw noise in the background.

Hibiya Park Sakura Blossoms-2011-C - (110408-1641)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsAq2Sv5GNc

Looking at sakura blossoms in Hibiya Park. (2011-C)

Yurakucho Reflections, Sakura, Etc. - (110408-1726)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STBgHqXcIWg

Looking around on streets in Yurakucho at reflections, sakura blossoms, etc.

1991 Shinagawa Pachinko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBwc1W-po9I

A look into a 1991 Shinagawa pachinko place, with traditional mechanical machines on the ground floor and new (at the time) electronic machines on the second floor.

Shinagawa to Yurakucho - August 1991
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bLoyPyDXnE

Riding a Keihin-Tohoku Line train from Shinagawa to Yurakucho in August 1991.  This opens on a bus as it approaches the east exit side of Shinagawa Station.  The appearance of the east exit in 1991 may be shocking to anyone who is only familiar with the current east exit - it's almost unbelievably different.

Ginza - December 1991
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WohyWrVj5s

Walking around in Ginza in December of 1991 - way back in the 20th century.

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://ginzalyle.blogspot.com/
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/

"Old Type Train" (110315_0042)

"Old Type Train" - Copyright 2011 by LHS

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

"Radioactive Tokyo 2011? / 1991 Kyojima, 1991 Shinkansen, 1991 Ginza Side Streets, Etc."

The nuclear emergency in Fukushima continues to overshadow daily life.  I look around my apartment and ponder what I would put into a backpack to carry off on a probable one-way exodus from Tokyo if a worst-case scenario becomes reality and Tokyo is converted from a thriving city of (metropolitan figure including suburbs) 30,000,000 people, into a toxic no-go land of radioactivity.  And what then?  Can 30,000,000 people actually relocate to southern Japan?  Probably not all - many millions would likely die....

And so looking back at old video clips from 1991, the pre-Fukushima Disaster era seems like a kind of paradise - with people walking around looking for restaurants at lunchtime, not worrying about the invisible destructive force of radiation threatening the viability of the entire country, and the health of the planet in general.  Now it's different - there's an edge in the air as people go about their daily tasks, perhaps looking back on pre-tsunami/nuclear-disaster times with nostalgia.

The batch of videos this time opens with a look at 1991 Kyojima - which is a narrow bit of land between two rivers which luckily escaped the fire-bombing of Tokyo in 1945.  In the 1991 view, there were still pre-WW-II wooden structures remaining:

March 1991 - Kyojima (in Shitamachi)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OawQ8KaEGXE

Walking around in the Kyojima area of Shitamachi in March of 1991.


Another trip back to 1991 - I walk around on the Shinkansen super-express platforms at Tokyo Station and onto waiting Shinkansen trains to have a look inside - including a look at private rooms on the lower level of one of the first-class "Green Cars":

1991 - Tokyo Station Shinkansen Tour
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRAGHilhjM4

Walking through Shinkansen trains at Tokyo Station in 1991.


In this video from 1991, I do something that I don't think you can do now - I walk through a pachinko parlor recording the scene of people playing the game.  Almost all of the machines in this view from two decades ago are mechanical - with little ball bearings bouncing around.  More and more, the machines are electronic versions of slot machines, with more electronic noises than the mechanical noises recorded in this video:

Ginza Pachinko - May 1991
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjLA3vzA_og

Having a look at a 1991 pachinko place in Ginza.


The atmosphere of this May 1991 lunchtime view of Ginza has such a different feel to it compared to current Ginza.  Things were more relaxed in a way then.  By May 1991, when this was taken, the "bubble economy" was already on its way down, but there was still belief that it would rebound sooner rather than later, and overall, this was basically still part of the "bubble era".  At this point, with a depressed economy going back about two decades now, and with the tsunami/nuclear disaster pulling things further down, people are not as optimistic as they were when this clip was recorded:

Ginza Side Streets - May 1991
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-fq9eEpzyk

Walking around on lunchtime side streets in Ginza in May 1991.  The video opens on a Yurakucho Line train on the way there and closes on a Marunouchi Line train leaving.  (All rights reserved by Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon. 1991, 2011)


Back to 2011 - post March 11th, 2011 - with half the lights turned off in the station to conserve power in suddenly insufficient-electricity Tokyo.  And when I climbed on a Chuo Line train, the internal lights were all off - although they were turned back on as the train neared Shinjuku:

Darker than Usual - Kokubunji Station and Chuo Line - (110404-1316)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wNqTJ0GFRI

A look at a darker than usual Kokubunji Station and Chuo Line train.


Many parts of the Tokyo Station complex are under construction, but this walk is primarily though the areas where construction has been completed, coming out by the newly built Daiichi Department Store:

Tokyo Station Stroll - (110404-1404)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZdpZT3Amy4

Walking around in Tokyo Station - exiting near the Daiichi Department Store.


Shinkansen Passing by in Yurakucho - (110404-2235)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnZYJpiVglg

Watching a Shinkansen train passing by in Yurakucho late at night.


Yurakucho to Tokyo via Yamanote Line - (110404-2322)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajWkMVXBv8w

Riding from Yurakucho to Tokyo via the Yamanote Line late at night.


Chuo Line Train Departing from Tokyo Station - (110404-2326)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xnqi4JmHAc

Watching a Chuo Line Train Departing from Tokyo Station.


Yotsuya to Shinjuku on the Chuo Line - (110404-2341)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA87Z5Mv2dc

Riding from Yotsuya to Shinjuku on the Chuo Line.


Night Chuo Line - Outbound from Shinjuku - (110404-2344)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEc6Pi_RzLQ

Riding a nighttime Chuo Line outbound from Shinjuku.


Exiting Seibu Shinjuku Station - (110405-1920)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF682rvfYJ0

Exiting the ticket gates of Seibu Shinjuku Station.


From Seibu-Shinjuku Station to Street - (110405-1922)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI12HCntnys

Walking from Seibu-Shinjuku Station to the street.


Shinjuku - Near Kabukicho - (110405-1924)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCQqGeuEWXc

Walking down the street in Shinjuku - near Kabukicho.


Walking Towards and then into Shinjuku Station - (110405-1926)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7hz8ollhOQ

Walking down the evening streets of Shinjuku towards - and then into Shinjuku Station.


This being April, it's the season of new hires joining companies out of university, and fist-year students of high schools and universities breathing a sigh of relief as they join their new schools - past the grueling and infamous entrance exams.  And so the atmosphere by the east exit gates of Shinjuku Station was optimistic feeling, with people meeting, talking, going off somewhere with friends, etc. - with the scene under half the number of lights usually used.  Actually, this amount of lighting is probably just about right - most spaces are over-lit with banks of EFT (Evil Florescent Tubes), so cutting back doesn't even seem dark really:

Shinjuku Station - Looking Around at the East Exit - (110405-1937)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42w7OntdSM8

Looking around at the East Exit of Shinjuku Station.


Shinjuku - Omoide Yokocho - (110405-2157)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdze7UTJfnw

Walking through Omoide Yokocho in Shinjuku.


Shinjuku Station - South Exit - (110405-1946)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWzkqQmTsVo

A look at the South Exit of Shinjuku Station.


Water heaters now are - while still of the instantaneous type - generally externally mounted and hooked up to multiple sinks, but in 1991, older apartments usually had small instantaneous gas-fired water heaters mounted directly over kitchen sinks.  In this 1991 video, I walk around in an empty apartment building that has been mostly gutted in preparation for demolition, but still has many of the old water heaters mounted on the kitchen walls, so I explain how the different types work (different types because each household was responsible for buying their own water heater, so there was no standardization of what type the building used):

Old Apartment Water Heaters, Etc. (Before Demolition) - June 1991
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6Xvipvk22Y

Walking around in an old concrete apartment building in June 1991 - which was just about to be smashed to rubble - checking out the various types of water heaters left behind, etc.

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

"Old Railway Sign" - (110329)

"Old Railway Sign" Copyright 2011 by LHS

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

"Tokyo Station" - (110329)

"Tokyo Station" Copyright 2011 by LHS

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

"Chuo, Ginza, and Tozai Lines, Old Door, Tokyo Station, and Shinjuku - West Side"

Riding about in a tenser and less crowded Tokyo.  With rolling blackouts (mostly canceled with the recent warm weather), economic problems, and radioactive fallout from the broken nuclear reactors of Fukushima, people are not working much overtime, and are mostly rushing straight home - trying to spend as little time as possible out in the radioactive air, and also wanting to get home before erratic train schedules leave them stranded in central Tokyo.

Fukushima - it's astonishing to me how after Chernobyl and now Fukushima, there is this loud chorus from various sources saying "nuclear energy is safe" - particularly when I read things like this:

   "Only trace amounts of the toxic substance [plutonium] have been detected. The highest level found so far - 0.54 becquerals per kg of soil - is not considered harmful. Most people have some plutonium in their bodies from atmospheric and underwater nuclear tests and some pacemakers are powered by plutonium.
   "Plutonium-239, the type of plutonium most abundant in reactors, has a half-life of 24,200 years. It is not readily absorbed by the body but what is absorbed, stays put, irradiates surrounding tissue and is carcinogenic."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/01/japan-plant-idUSL3E7ES10P20110401?pageNumber=1

Okay - so they haven't found much of it - but I would prefer none of that very nasty material at all!  Anyway - I sure hope the toxic mess at Fukushima will be brought under control and cleaned up soon!

Here are a few video clips from earlier in the week:

Tokyo to Shinjuku at Night - Chuo Line Right Side - (110329-1950)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPrfaG8iqWA

Riding a Chuo Line train from Tokyo to Shinjuku at night - looking out the right side of the train.

Darker than Usual Takadanobaba Station - (110329-1445)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgVy0JS6CxM

A look at a darker than usual Takadanobaba Station - Seibu, JR, and Tozai lines.

Boarding Tozai Line at Takadanobaba Station - (110329-1452)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPp2SfNTvqU

Boarding a Tozai Line train at Takadanobaba Station - which has many of its usual lights turned off.

Otemachi to Ginza via Nihonbashi (Tozai and Ginza Lines) - (110329-1507)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45s1Ewb9oQ

Going from Otemachi to Ginza via Nihonbashi Station on the Tozai and Ginza Lines.

Walking Along Ginza Chuo-Dori - (110329-1516)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vhAYcnluJA

Walking along Chuo-Dori (the main street) in Ginza.

Opening an Original Door in the Okuno Building - (110329-1831)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QAdUIi2SZU

Opening an original door in the Okuno Building and listening to the sound/music it makes.

At Machida Masayuki Exhibition (町田昌之 at 小野画廊) - (110329-1923)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI_G9QMK1RA

Looking around while at Machida Masayuki's (町田昌之) exhibition  at Ono Gallery (小野画廊).

Walking Through Tokyo Station - (110329-1947)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJVkRQz6OoY

Looking around while walking through Tokyo Station.

Shinjuku Street Musicians - Omoide-Yokocho, Etc. - (110329-2149)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ76d_xTuUs

Walking along beside the west side of Shinjuku Station - stumbling upon a pair of street musicians, and then having a look at Omoide-Yokocho, etc.

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

"Ginza Barrier Road" - (110306-1241)

"Ginza Barrier Road" - (110306-1241)

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

"Izakaya Pizza, Etc." - (110306-1956)

"Izakaya Pizza, Etc."

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

"Tokyo Station Buses, Ginza, Kyobashi, Chuo Line, Kokubunji Bus, Shinjuku, Etc."

Post March 11th, 2011 earthquake, Tokyo is suddenly less crowded, less busy, and darker than usual, due to people fleeing the city due to radiation fears (or staying inside as much as possible) and scheduled blackouts to deal with a lack of electrical power.  Still - most residents cannot just drop everything and go... where?  For people who have relatives in Osaka, or other parts of Japan further away from the broken set of six nuclear reactors in Fukushima, it's relatively easy to just go there, but if you don't know anyone in a new area, it's very expensive to suddenly arrive and decide that you'll stay there.  Meanwhile - an altered form of daily life goes on in Tokyo, as you can see somewhat from the following clips.

Bus Area in Front of Tokyo Station - (110316-2314)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI512t-uxgs

Walking by the bus area in front of Tokyo Station late at night.

Kyobashi Sidewalk Shadows - (110316-1556)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLmIj7KCzOs

Glancing at sidewalk shadows in Kyobashi while walking along.

Marie Photo Exhibition Party at Ginza Modern Art - (110316-2122)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JiWTbo-d08

Looking around the table at the opening party for the Marie Photo Exhibition at Ginza Modern Art in the Okuno Building.

Kanda to Tokyo and Tokyo Station - (110316-1540)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOX1xH7rOus

Riding an inbound Chuo Line train (from a little before Kanda) through Kanda and on to Tokyo Station where I get off and walk through the station.

Empty Shelves at Grocery Store in Kyobashi - (110316-1600)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtaxeqKZJk8

Walking through a Grocery Store in Kyobashi and  looking at the many empty shelves in the store.

Tokyo to Shinjuku - Chuo Line (Semi-dark Tokyo) - (110322-1908)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ceUhRWx2sQ

Riding an outbound Chuo Line train from Tokyo to Shinjuku - looking out a left-side window at a darker-than-usual Tokyo.

Winter Tree Reflections - (110323-1624)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJItjTRVBrE

Looking down/up at winter tree reflections.

Looking Around on One End of Takao Station - (110323-1457)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcoPwTfFVxI

Looking around on a platform on one end of Takao Station.

Seibu Bus Ride to Kokubunji Station - (110322-1408)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaJQNl0CUxQ

Riding a Seibu bus to Kokubunji Station.

Entering Kokubunji Station - (110322-1416)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8T2LVdL-Nw

Walking into Kokubunji Station in western Tokyo.

Kokubunji Station - Waiting for a Train - (110322-1422)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4xHdSt3S8c

Walking around in Kokubunji Station while waiting for a train.

Ochanomizu to Kanda - Tugboat and Barge - (110322-1504)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzpWAhAySiQ

Watching a tugboat and barge out the window of an inbound Chuo Line train while riding from Ochanomizu to Kanda.

Kanda to Tokyo - Tokyo Station - (110322-1507)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ISSBD5P4lY

Riding the Chuo Line from Kanda to Tokyo and looking around a little at Tokyo Station.

Tokyo Station - Lines for Long Distance Buses - (110322-1514)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIRuR12Xx1k

Walking by long lines for long-distance buses in front of Tokyo Station - at least some of the people fleeing Tokyo out of radiation fears.

Shinjuku Station - Semi-Dark South Exit - (110322-1926)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-JoJj40rQs

At Shinjuku Station - having a look at the semi-dark South Exit.

Darker than Usual Yodobashi Camera - (110322-2131)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRuglmMGDPQ

Checking out a darker than usual Yodobashi Camera store in Shinjuku.

Shinjuku - South Entrance to Chuo Line - (110322-2150)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7UJg0UABhQ

Walking from the south entrance of Shinjuku Station to the Chuo Line platform.

Semi-Dark Shinjuku Sidewalk Stroll - (110322-1929)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oee47OchdUg

Walking along a semi-dark Shinjuku sidewalk during Tokyo's electricity-shortage era....

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

Ginza-Okuno Building - Room-306 (110312-1739)

Ginza-Okuno Building - Room-306 (110312-1739)

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

New Ful Bari (ニューフルバリ) in Shiinamachi (椎名町店) Indian Nepal Restaurant

On a zero food-budget walk a few weeks back, a friendly man tried to entice me into his restaurant, so I had to honestly tell him that I was on a zero food-budget walk and wan't having any lunch at all that day. So... I thought I'd toss the flyer he gave me on line instead:

New Ful Bari / Shiinamachi

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

"Blackout"

A blackout is a weird thing when you've grown up with electricity on 24/7/356, year after year, decade after decade, and have experienced temporary blackouts a grand total of two or three times in half a century.  I'm typing this on my laptop (rushing along trying to get as much done as I can before the battery discharges beyond the usable range), and the vision of my Internet connection device sitting by with not so much as a single lit LED, looks really strange.

So here I am typing text, because there isn't much else I can be doing, and I suppose the blackout is helpful for me today in that it has kicked me off-line and provided time for me to write some text - a task I've been ignoring for far too long.

.........  I just went out and checked for physical mail - noting the sun getting low on the horizon - mindful that unless I wanted to check it with a flashlight, I needed to make use of the sun's light.

With the power out, the water also disappears, as it's a pump-fed tank system that needs the electric pump to push water into the tank.  So, once the electric power is cut, there's a brief period where the apartment complex has gravity-fed water from the tank, but once that's gone, there's no more water from the tap until the pump goes into action again with power restored.

Come to think of it - it's vital pumps and lack of electrical power for them that caused the nuclear disaster unfolding at the Fukushima plant....

Well - as the darkness descends upon the land, I shall venture forth to experience this rare thing - a city without electric lights.  Back later!

[Hours later] - It started off very nicely - as it began getting dark, there were no irritatingly over-bright streetlights to ruin the magic of the sunset, and the houses and apartments were strangely devoid of electric lights.  There was even a near-full moon in the sky!

As I walked along, I noticed that some people appeared to be hurrying home with more urgency than usual (to get there before darkness fell - like in the old-old-old days), and when I passed other males out walking, we eyed each other suspiciously "What is this suspicious looking male doing out walking around as darkness falls...?" we each seemed to think (I was half thinking that, and half amused at the sudden reversion to a deep-dark-woods way of thinking.

I headed over to a shotengai street and noted that the convenience store was still doing business - without the cash registers and by the light of the dim emergency lighting in the ceiling, and the bank's ATM section was operating with full blindingly bright banks of florescent lights blasting away, the heating blasting hot air, the machines operational, and the recorded voice at the door welcoming you as you come in.  "Hmm... either they're wired into something different than the other buildings in the neighborhood, or they've got a liquid-energy fueled generator up on the roof generating their own power..."

Then I walked over to a railway and noted that their signal lights were all on, which stood to reason - being an electric railway, they're not only wired differently than the areas they pass through, but are an exception to the blackout I think.  What I hadn't expected, was there were several blindingly bright street lights along the railway, particularly at crossings - which makes sense enough, but it took away from the novelty of being outside in a world suddenly without electricity - when it was only 95% without electricity.

And then there were the headlights of the cars, the flashing LED lights of cyclists, etc.  So, I began by feeling excited at the idea of seeing part of Tokyo - for the first time in my life - purely by moonlight, but ended up observing that you can't get away from very bright lights in Tokyo - even in a blackout!

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

"Where are the Robots When You Need Them?"

Like many people in the world, I've been following the story of the Fukushima nuclear power plant that is in varying degrees of meltdown. And living in Tokyo, this is of more than passing interesting to me!

Watching footage of military helicopters flying high and fast while attempting to drop water onto the radiation-emitting sections of the ruined power plant, it looked as though the radiation of the damaged plant is so intense that they can't use the helicopters' ability to hover and drop the water exactly where its needed, but have to resort to flying over the plant high and fast, which then makes it impossible to get the water exactly where it needs to be.

And so, I find myself thinking - if they have drones to fly around and destroy things, can't they use the same technology to fly pilotless helicopters that can hover over the radioactive danger zone and drop water exactly where it's needed? Or is there some legal clause in the use of the devices that stipulates "This technology must only be used for death and destruction - it must not be used to save 30,000,000 residents of a modern mega-city from becoming poisoned members of a radioactive ghetto"?

Yeah - I'm being sarcastic all right - but seriously - can't they fly pilotless helicopters? It may be new technology, but a lot is at stake here.

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

"Magic Light"

In the middle of my joint-exhibition this month (March 2011) in Room-306 in the Okuno Building, an acquaintance came by to look it over at the end of the day, and so we ended up sitting on a couple of chairs by an open window - discussing the exhibition (and other things) while having a couple of glasses of wine.

Room-306 in the Okuno Building was used for over 70 years by Ms. Suda, who crossed over to the other side at 100 years of age a couple of years ago.  Since she used the room for the entire time (in contrast with the other rooms in the building, which have had a variety of tenants) her presence is still very much felt there.

Once past the normal exhibition hours, I turned off the overhead light so the ambiance of the room could better be felt, and my friend and I continued talking about one thing and another.

We looked around at the room and looked out at the night street below, and after talking for 45 minutes or so, suddenly one of the two ceiling lights came on - the one that stopped working several days before.  Just a coincidence I guess, but it seemed as though Suda-san had decided we shouldn't be sitting in the dark like that and had decided to turn on the light - the magic light....

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

"Brief Account of March 11th, 2011"

I've been asked by many friends and family how I am, and I've been replying individually, but I just wrote a very brief summary to an old friend and it occurred to me to go ahead and post it here:

I had a cup of coffee that I'd just topped up when it started shaking, so I took a quick sip to lower the level to stop it from spilling, and put it on the corner of my desk. The shaking intensified and a little spilled onto my scanner - "S***!" said I and moved the cup to the floor.

Then it shook harder still and I stood up, as I do when I'm worried an earthquake will knock over bookcases in the room, so I can hold them up. For a few microseconds I thought it was going to pass by, as they typically do (we get a lot of earthquakes here, after all), but then it got really serious, and boxes started crashing down around me from the bookshelves and I could hear things smashing in the kitchen. I held up things near me; stopped a stack of heavy audio equipment from crashing down onto my head; and cursed as the rest of the room's contents crashed down around me (along with a symphony of noise from things smashing in the kitchen). Somewhere in the middle of this I glanced down and noticed that most of the coffee had sloshed out onto the floor and my foot.

And then the shaking stopped.... I cursed some more and climbed over the mountain of stuff and went through the door into the rest of the apartment to assess the damage. Messy! Very messy! Some things appeared to be completely untouched while other things were halfway across the room. Lots of broken dishes and a broken bottle of whiskey, etc.

The worst part was a pile of wired AV equipment that had fallen off of shelving and into a heap on the floor - I had to painstakingly disassemble it wire by wire, piece by piece. I finally broke it down into its component parts, but haven't gotten around reassembling it.

And just when I thought I was getting past that, I notice at night that - when I hold out a hand - it glows in the dark......

Anyway, still alive at the moment at least!

[And this is an earlier thing I posted about the day (including a comment from an acquaintance)]:

D***... I dropped the ball with video. While things were crashing down around me, I didn't think to grab the camera - I was too busy holding up the computer rack...

[Comment]: "I think you'll be forgiven for that."

Yeah... I guess - but it would have been interesting for the audio track especially - the simultaneous crashing and smashing of dishes and bottles in the kitchen, along with machinery, books, boxes, etc. crashing down around me - with me swearing up a storm while I kept the computer in place and just stopped some old stereo equipment from crashing onto my head.

Come to think of it - without a third hand, I couldn't have held the camera, but too bad I didn't turn it on and put it... where? Wait - better I didn't turn it on! I would have missed the sliding heavy amplifier, etc., and possibly ended up dead while I focused on the viewfinder.

Those... what? 30 seconds? 60 seconds? So much stuff happening so quickly. The audio part of it was definitely the most impressive aspect of the experience. I don't think I've heard a more impressive soundtrack in a movie. They could make one like it I'm sure, but if the action began and was over within 60 seconds - with the sounds all mixed together, movie-goers wouldn't be pleased, so they drag it out and separate the different noises - one crash for one thing falling down, etc. The real version has a whole symphony of disaster going full-out at the same time, and in the heightened state of danger/disaster/oh-s***!/etc., you actually sense the different components to a remarkable degree. Very intense. I'm sort of in a mild state of shock thinking back on it....

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

"Yokko Exhibition, Ginza, Yurakucho, Shinjuku, Okuno Building, and Various Trains"

This batch of videos straddles the period before and after the March 11th, 2011 earthquake - with typical train scenes (Chuo, Tozai, Seibu lines, etc.) and street scenes of Ginza, Yurakucho, and Shinjuku, etc.  There are also videos showing the large-scale painting by Yokko and views of the Okuno Building.

Very much in mind are the many problems generated by the earthquake - the earthquake itself is one thing, but the radiation fears from the damaged nuclear power plants are even more scary - one problem begins to gradually recede, the other to grow....

Yokko 1st Floor Exhibition/Performance at Ginza Okuno Building - (110306-1438)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV_6piLfmms

The final 1st floor performance - displaying the huge painting by Yokko in the first-floor lobby area of the Okuno Building.

Elevator Version of Yokko 1st Floor Exhibition - (110306-1424)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYKhYij3o5c

Elevator version of "The final 1st floor performance" - displaying the huge painting by Yokko in the first-floor lobby area of the Okuno Building.

Kimono Version of Yokko 1st Floor Exhibition - (1103061414)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehhmzyh2cb4

Kimono version of "The final 1st floor performance" - displaying the huge painting by Yokko in the first-floor lobby area of the Okuno Building.

The website for Y's Arts:
http://www.ysarts.net/

Seibu Line - Ogawa to Hagiyama - (110307-1510)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU_9kLRAKRw

Riding the Seibu Line from Ogawa to Hagiyama.

Ginza Chuo-Dori Stroll - (110307-1604)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_UQ1TV0yJ4

Walking along the street on Ginza's Chuo-Dori.

Ginza 5-Chome Side Street Stroll - (110307-1629)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy4cb9lpD3M

Walking along a side street in Ginza 5-Chome.

Takadanobaba Seibu Platform - (110307-2102)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvvjLKfTjYg

Walking on a crowded Takadanobaba Seibu Platform.

Ogawa to Hagiyama - (110308-1608)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mquA3_Bht8

Looking out the window of a Seibu Line train from Ogawa to Hagiyama.

Tozai Line Arriving at Takadanobaba - (110308-1640)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3HCIotdW-c

Watching a Tozai Line train arriving at Takadanobaba.

Ginza - Chuo-Dori to Side Streets - (110308-1701)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isaJlKuCxWY

Walking in Ginza - from Chuo-Dori to a couple of side streets.

Okuno Building Room-306 March 2011 Exhibition (A) - (110308-1759)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUslZUQOAuM

Looking around at the Okuno Building Room-306 March 2011 Exhibition.

Okuno Building Walkabout - 306 Exhibition - (110308-1812)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV3KLq7WKKc

Going on a walkabout in the Okuno Building - including a look at the Room-306 Exhibition.

Yurakucho Walkabout - (110308-1907)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDP3a2US0zI

Walking around in Yurakucho one evening.

Yurakucho to Tokyo on the Yamanote Line - (110308-1920)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkyIDuCekAs

Riding a Yamanote Line train from Yurakucho to Tokyo.

Chuo Line - Tokyo to Ochanomizu - (110308-1925)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1y3rT9cXaM

Taking the Chuo Line from Tokyo to Ochanomizu.

Shinjuku Station, Outbound Chuo Line Platform - (110308-1939)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8gw629TaQQ

Looking around while walking down the outbound Chuo Line platform.

Walking into Nishi-Shinjuku - (110308-1944)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfo-9VD1Ou4

Walking into Nishi-Shinjuku after coming out of the south exit of Shinjuku Station.

Street Musicians in Shinjuku - (110308-2212)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsyrRPXOjnI

Briefly listening to a couple of street musicians in Shinjuku.

Shinjuku - West to East, Band to Band - (110308-2214)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie-7m2K61y8

Walking in Shinjuku from the west side to the east side, with the starting point being one band, and the ending point, another band.

Shinjuku Street Jazz Band - (110308-2223)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ2m31qXYMI

Looking around in Shinjuku while listening to a street jazz band.

Looking Around in Shinjuku - (110308-2233)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb7npA0Znyg

Looking around in Shinjuku - and then continuing on down the street.

Exploring an Old Building - (110309-1732)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YoyIS9LPkA

Exploring an old building in Ginza 1-chome.

Seibu Line - Ogawa to Kodaira (Left Side View) - (110309-1448)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqK5DNPXduQ

Riding the Seibu Line - looking out the left side of a train while going from Ogawa to Kodaira.

Trains Arriving at Kodaira Station - (110309-1456)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGq2dF3fYvk

Watching trains arriving at Kodaira Station.

Takadanobaba Transfer - Seibu to Tozai - (110309-1519)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skXGEvh4Q7Q

Transferring from the Seibu Line to the Tozai Line at Takadanobaba.

Walking Around on the Third Floor - (110309-1705)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk7ZhAO1lIo

Walking around on the third floor of an old building in Ginza.

Third Floor and Room-306 - (110309-1707)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQfxCiCE72E

Looking around on the third floor and in Room-306.

Okuno Building - 4th and 3rd Floors + Room-306 - (110309-1714)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsHEEXIHbvE

A look at 4th and 3rd Floors + Room-306 of the Okuno Building.

Ginza Line - Ginza Station - (110309-2105)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qesUW9XWkRE

Taking a Ginza Line train from Ginza Station.

Tozai Line Arriving at Takadanobaba - (110312-1445)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIapGEt6kW4

Watching a Tozai Line train arriving at Takadanobaba.

Walking Around on Third and Fourth Floors in Okuno Building - (110312-1545)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8hhdlQA9-Q

Walking around on the third and fourth floors of the Okuno Building the day after the big earthquake.

Visiting Room-306 Exhibition in Okuno Building - (110312-1550)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuvKICSK84k

Visiting Room-306 Exhibition in the Okuno Building the day after the big earthquake.

Looking Around in Room-306 - (110312-1551)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctXkN0Abr6Q

Looking around in Room-306 of the Okuno Building on the day after the big earthquake.

Walking Towards Yurakucho Station - (110312-1913)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po2zQYXVyic

Walking towards Yurakucho Station on the day after the big earthquake.

Empty Ginza Station the Day After the Big Earthquake - (110312-1931)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Xq7HNge-8

The appearance of a mostly empty Ginza Station the day after the Big Earthquake.

Ginza to Nihonbashi on the Ginza Line - (110312-1934)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxU36EyRbAg

Riding the Ginza line from Ginza Station to Nihonbashi Station.

Nihonbashi Tozai Line Platform - (110312-1939)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXRvXi40P1s

Looking around on the Nihonbashi Tozai Line platform the day after the big earthquake.

Waiting for Tozai Line at Nihonbashi - Ride to Otemachi - (110312-1942)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLMkIdFdhE8

Waiting for the Tozai Line at Nihonbashi Station and looking through front cab on the ride to Otemachi.

Otemachi to Takebashi on the Tozai Line - (110312-1947)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzvWlHAPJ0w

Riding from Otemachi to Takebashi on the Tozai Line - looking through the front cab window.

Vertical Reflections Leaving Station - (110312-1359)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7OTv98AfM4

Looking at vertical reflections while departing station.

Waiting - Kanda to Tokyo - (110314-1843)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbwfsPWhCLc

Waiting around at Kanda Station for an inbound Chuo Line train to get underway and go to Tokyo Station.

Shut Down Seibu Line at Kokubunji Station - (110314-1742)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UimV9Rvxx4

Conditions due to the Seibu Line being shut down at Kokubunji Station.

Waiting for and Boarding a Chuo Line Train at Kokubunji - (110314-1749)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQOWsJhTF5s

Waiting for and Boarding a Chuo Line Train at Kokubunji Station in aftermath of big earthquake with reduced train service.

Walking Through Tokyo Station - March 14th, 2011 - (110314-1852)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykbG3DAZMkE

Walking through Tokyo Station on March 14th, 2011 - with reduced train service and many people at home due to transportation difficulties and blackouts.

Watching a Local Chuo Line Train Depart Tokyo Station - (110314-2315)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7hLDY99uL8

Watching a local Chuo Line train depart Tokyo Station during reduced service following large earthquake.

Window View - Outbound Chuo Line - (110314-2337)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B8gDXjGHog

Looking outside/inside via an inside window on an outbound Chuo Line train.

Empty Midnight Toyoda Station Platform - (110315-0038)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCBIz0yFuqk

Looking around at an empty midnight Toyoda Station platform.

Old Type Train Arrives at Toyoda Station - (110315-0040)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi4FFxmc9_8

Watching an old type train arrive at Toyoda Station.

Boarding Inbound Train from Toyoda Station - (110315-0043)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bA5HFD-mRc

Boarding an inbound midnight train from Toyoda Station.

Midnight Inbound Chuo Line - Hino to Kunitachi - (110315-0047)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPFHPOSkrtU

Riding an inbound midnight Chuo Line train from Hino to Kunitachi.

Midnight Inbound Chuo Line Train - Diagonal Window View - (110315-0053)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzeIFSb1cl0

Riding an inbound midnight Chuo Line train - looking out diagonally as the train arrives at a station.

Midnight Inbound Chuo Line Train - Inside and Out - (110315-0054)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiJVdH_8rC0

Riding a midnight inbound Chuo Line train - looking around inside and out the window as it progresses towards central Tokyo.

Walking Beneath Winter Trees - Looking Up - (110314-1655)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgIFwblYEdk

Looking up through winter tree branches while walking along.  Spring is near, but not here quite yet....

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

"Group Exhibition at Project Room-306"

I'm part of another exhibition - this time a group exhibition in the Okuno Building.  I have a set of montage photos like this one on display:

Photo Montage by Lyle H Saxon

All rights reserved, copyright 2011 by LHS

There are more details posted here.

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

"Ginza, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shiinamachi; Tozai, Ginza, Chuo, Seibu Lines, Etc."

This opens with a few HD clips of the Tozai and Ginza lines, and one clip of Chuo-Dori in central Ginza.  After that, there are a lot of clips - Ginza in the rain, Yurakucho, a Keihin-Tohoku Line run from Yurakucho to Tokyo, various views of Shinjuku Station and areas around Shinjuku Station.

From there, I go out to Tokorozawa and ride the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line to Shiinamachi, recording most of the route between Tokorozawa and Shiinamachi - where I exit the train system and record some scenes in the Shiinamachi Station area.  After that are some views of Ikebukuro (not all in chronological order), followed by views of Shinjuku, and several train views.

After all of that, there's a view of an artist rolling out his huge painting on a rooftop, and views of the Tokyo Station area under construction and Ginza.

(HD) Tozai Line  Takebashi to Otemachi - (110301-1249)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXgWVNWhrgg

Riding the Tozai Line from Takebashi Station to Otemachi Station.

(HD) Tozai Line - Otemachi to Nihonbashi - (110301-1251)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15vx2VxJXOc

Riding the Tozai Line from Otemachi to Nihonbashi.

(HD) Ginza Line - Kyobashi to Ginza - (110301-1255)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpnLBssr-5g

Riding the Ginza Line from Kyobashi to Ginza.

(HD) Ginza - Chuo Dori (110301-1257)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHdzO06bfSk

Looking both ways on Chuo-Dori in Ginza.

Ginza Intersection in the Rain - (110301-1736)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjN488Fi814

Watching a Ginza intersection in the rain.

Beside Yurakucho Plaza - 360-View (110301-1739)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okdnSSF5umA

Looking around beside Yurakucho Plaza - 360-degree view.

Yurakucho to Tokyo - Keihin-Tohoku Line - (110301-1820)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C42T2yTHV_s

Riding a Keihin-Tohoku Line train from Yurakucho to Tokyo Station.

Chuo Line Outbound Platform at Shinjuku Station - (110301-1839)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtG3GcPbqh0

View of the outbound Chuo Line Platform at Shinjuku Station.

Walking Through Shinjuku Station - Upper Level - (110301-1841)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imImxFvIsPc

Walking through the upper level of Shinjuku Station.

Exiting South Exit of Shinjuku Station - (110301-1842)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc7nx0WULRw

A view of the scene at the south exit of Shinjuku Station.

Shinjuku Omoide-Yokocho - (110301-2145)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G22QehZoUT4

Walking through Shinjuku's Omoide-Yokocho Izakaya street.

Tokorozawa Platform and Run Towards Next Station - (110304-0935)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MyTgMWqQQE

Looking around on the platform of Tokorozawa Station and then out the left-side window on the ride towards the next station.

Between Tokorozawa and Hibarigaoka - Seibu-Ikebukuro Line (110304-0939)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0uw0iAzFi8

Looking out the window between Tokorozawa and Hibarigaoka on the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line.

Hibarigaoka to Shakujikoen - Seibu Ikebukuro Line (110304-0946)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHnw-1Mi3gc

Riding the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Hibarigaoka to Shakujikoen.

Shakujikoen Platform - Seibu Ikebukuro Line (110304-0951)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwyZ3_k-D-8

Looking around on the platform of Shakujikoen Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.

Shakujikoen to Nerima-Takanodai - Seibu-Ikebukuro Line (110304-0954)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP_D0oEq-lw

Riding the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line from Shakujikoen to Nerima-Takanodai.

Nerima-Takanodai to Nerima - Seibu-Ikebukuro Line (110304-0957)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzAAU6SikcM

Riding the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line from Nerima-Takanodai to Nerima.

Nerima to Shiinamachi - Seibu-Ikebukuro Line (110304-1004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtU93_s53sI

Riding the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line from Nerima to Shiinamachi.

Express Train Zooms Past Shiinamachi Station - (110304-1016)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87iHdm5lRkY

Express train zooms past Shiinamachi Station at Seibu-Ikebukuro Station.

Construction at Shiinamachi Station - Seibu-Ikebukuro Line (110304-1016)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvGrdRbya7w

Construction and construction noises at Shiinamachi Station on the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line.

Exiting Shiinamachi Station - Seibu-Ikebukuro Line (110304-1019)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVJx3gevwTg

Exiting Shiinamachi Station on the  Seibu-Ikebukuro Line in the late morning.

Road Bridge 360-View - Toshima-ku (110304-1148)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnXdO0obQE

Looking around from a road bridge in Toshima-ku.

Wind at Shrine in Toshima-ku (VV) -  (110304-1213)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmwH2vdatsk

A vertical view of wind at a Shrine in Toshima-ku.

Wind at Temple in Toshima-ku (110304-1214)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFBMksvTZYs

A look (at effects of) and listen to wind at a temple in Toshima-ku.

Noontime Shotengai View in Shiinamachi - (110304-1223)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY8w3t_n5t0

A noontime look at part of the many shotengai streets in Shiinamachi.

Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo Escalator_東京芸術劇場 (110304-1351)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vQwjsEUBwI

Riding the long escalator up at Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo (東京芸術劇場).

Seibu-Haijima Line Arriving at Kodaira Station - (110304-1808)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZmpW508TH8

A nighttime Seibu-Haijima Line train arrives at Kodaira Station.

Walking into Nishi-Shinjuku - (110304-1659)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GDCGX0qu6Y

Walking into Nishi-Shinjuku - crossing the intersection by First Kitchen.

Walking Towards Shinjuku Station - (110304-1726)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UrTzdaGiOM

Walking through the crowds towards Shinjuku Station.

Shinjuku West Exit, Omoide-Yokocho, Etc. - (110304-1731)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGlfYbCqsZM

Walking around near the west exit/entrance of Shinjuku Station, then walking over to and through Omoide-Yokocho, Etc.

Kogei High School (東京都立工芸等校学校) Exhibition (A) - (110304-1406)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AV2GYFGEDA

Kogei High School Exhibition (東京都立工芸等校学校展示会) at Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo (東京芸術劇場) (A)

Kogei High School (東京都立工芸等校学校) Exhibition (B) - (110304-1449)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVbx5t3QPAc

Kogei High School Exhibition (東京都立工芸等校学校展示会) at Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo (東京芸術劇場) (B)

Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo Escalator (東京芸術劇場エスカレータ) (B) - (110304-1508)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17FzcMCt9tk

Riding the long escalator at Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo.
東京芸術劇場エスカレータ - (B)

Riding Elevator Down From 5th Floor - (110304-1511)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvbcpdhDIx8

Riding an elevator down from the 5th floor of Tokyo Geijutsu Gekijo (東京芸術劇場).

Ikebukuro Windy Sidewalks - (110304-1558)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_4_Xov8nZc

Walking along on Windy Ikebukuro Sidewalks.

Ikebukuro West Side Stroll - (110304-1601)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suuef5sVZd4

Walking around on the west side of Ikebukuro Station.

Ikebukuro - From West Side to East - (110304-1603)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oxuhgL_hJQ

Walking in Ikebukuro - from the west side to the east side.

Ikebukuro East Side Crosswalk - (110304-1606)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUJYPgOs-jU

Crossing a crosswalk on the east side of Ikebukuro Station.

Ikebukuro Labi Down Escalator (Former Mitsukoshi Department Store) - (110304-1621)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNdJND-CqiY

Riding down escalators at Ikebukuro Labi (in the building that was formerly a Mitsukoshi Department Store).

Ikebukuro - East Side to Station Stroll - (110304-1628)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2eBT7LF_oA

Walking through the crowds from the east side of Ikebukuro Station, leading into the inside of the station.

Ikebukuro Station Platform Stroll (Six-Door Car View) (110304-1640)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLH_dxQqYa0

Walking down the Ikebukuro Station platform  - walking by one of the six-door train cars.

Ikebukuro to Meguro - Yamanote Line - (110304-1643)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m7TLWP__To

Riding the Yamanote Line from Ikebukuro to Meguro.

Meguro to Takadanobaba - Yamanote Line - (110304-1647)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oGVGRwtsVs

Riding the Yamanote Line from Meguro to Takadanobaba.

Takadanobaba to Shin-Okubo - Yamanote Line - (110304-1648)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KoBimMjhko

Riding the Yamanote Line from Takadanobaba to Shin-Okubo.

Shin-Okubo to Shinjuku - Shinjuku Platform View - (110304-1650)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16ctARKgNY

Going from Shin-Okubo to Shinjuku, with a platform view in Shinjuku.

Shinjuku - South Exit Area - (110304-1655)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKNJrk0ZHko

A look at the south exit area of Shinjuku.

Walking Downhill from Shinjuku South Exit - (110304-1657)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34-_UPNX6fk

Walking down the hill from the south exit of Shinjuku Station.

Advertising Truck at Stoplight in Shinjuku - (110304-1658)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsBmPTNI79k

Watching a large advertising truck creep through an intersection in Shinjuku.

Ikebukuro East Side Stroll (A) - (110304-1623)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVs-U9ztTcw

Walking around on the east side of Ikebukuro Station. (A)

Ikebukuro East Side Stroll (B) - (110304-1626)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssNuzugO_9I

Walking around on the east side of Ikebukuro Station. (B)

Ikebukuro Station Stroll - (110304-1638)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R4_l0GwPS8

Walking through Ikebukuro Station.

Ginza Station to Nihonbashi Station - (110306-2126)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz6T-FMafjg

Taking the Ginza line from Ginza Station to Nihonbashi Station.

Tozai Line - Otemachi to Takadanobaba - (110306-2133)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvCjYFVTklE

Riding the Tozai Line from Otemachi to Takadanobaba.

Takadanobaba Station - Entering Seibu Line Section - (110306-2149)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2xiLzsHcKA

Walking through Takadanobaba Station - and into the Seibu Line area of the station.

Yokko Rooftop Exhibition/Performance at Ginza Okuno Building - (110306-1532)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmBcXDVmLWE

The final performance - displaying the huge painting by Yokko up on the roof of the Okuno Building.

The website for Y's Arts is here:
http://www.ysarts.net/

Walking Through Crowded Tokyo Station - (110306-1140)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3cR1XQ343c

Walking through a crowded Tokyo Station on a Sunday.

Walk Past Construction Zone at Tokyo Station - (110306-1143)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhxWSZll0L0

Walking past the large construction zone at Tokyo Station on the Yaesu-guchi side.

Ginza - From Street to Ginza Line Platform - (110306-2123)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM3dqq1S4JM

In Ginza - walking from street level on Chuo-Dori, down to the subway platform at Ginza Station.

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://ginzalyle.blogspot.com/
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/

"Ginza 5-Chome" - (110224)

"Ginza 5-Chome" Copyright 2011 by LHS

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

"Ginza Gallery Window" - (110224)

"Ginza Gallery Window"

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

"Takadanobaba Shamisen, Tozai Line, Ginza, Nihonbashi and Yurakucho"

This set of clips begins with a view of a man playing the shamisen under a rail bridge in Takadanobaba.  Next is a clip of walking down the 1932 Okuno Building staircase (the other staircase in the building is from 1934), going from the seventh floor to the first floor.  Following those, there are views from the Tozai, Ginza, and Marunouchi Lines, as well as views of Ginza, Nihonbashi, and Yurakucho.

Takadanobaba Shamisen Player (110223-2030)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIoIhaO4JIs

Listening to a man playing the shamisen in Takadanobaba.  It starts off slow, but picks up speed and energy towards the end (notice the freight train that passes in the background).

Okuno Building Stairwell - 7th to 1st - (110223-1514)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyNhZyupops

Walking down the Okuno Building Stairwell from the seventh floor to the first floor in the 1932 building.

Boarding Tozai Line at Takadanobaba Station - (110223-1442)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0PDH0RIt4Y

Boarding an inbound Tozai Line at Takadanobaba Station.

Riding Tozai Line out of Takadanobaba - (110223-1443)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXlDavyR6-c

Riding an inbound Tozai Line train out of Takadanobaba Station.

Ginza Chuo-Dori Stroll (110223-1503)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLZxFOAdGYw

Walking down Chuo-Dori in Ginza.

Nihonbashi to Kyobashi on the Ginza Line - (110223-1458)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMP_Gb3-th8

Riding a Ginza Line train from Nihonbashi to Kyobashi.

Chuo Line to Marunouchi Line Transfer at Yotsuya - (110224-0925)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxGLKFFmZ6k

Transferring at Yotsuya Station from the Chuo Line to the Marunouchi Line.

Kokkaigijido-mae - Exiting Marunouchi Line (110224-0932)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQSNLBr_ueY

Walking through Kokkaigijido-mae Station while exiting the Marunouchi Line.

Boarding Ginza Line at Toranomon Station (110224-1048)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4fr0GvBIP0

Boarding the Ginza Line at Toranomon Station.

Vertical Finish Line Train Doors - Ginza Line - (110224-1053)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEQHNuONYEE

A vertical look at the inside of the train doors on a Ginza Line train - with Finish Line stickers advertising the upcoming Tokyo marathon.

Ginza Line - Nihonbashi Platform Scene - (110224-1056)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIxLdcFWEqo

A look at the platform scene at Nihonbashi Station.

Nihonbashi Station - Heading for an Exit -  (110224-1058)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZswwVdgT3Q

Heading for an exit at Nihonbashi Station.

Nihonbashi Main Road Scene - (110224-1101)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp_y2Dg_aOs

Looking both ways on a busy main road scene in Nihonbashi.

Yurakucho Plaza View - (110224-1447)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcTbkIo-oZE

A nearly 360-degree look at Yurakucho Plaza.

Yurakucho Bic Camera Escalators - (110224-1505)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFym4WXu9gs

Riding the down escalators at Yurakucho Bic Camera.

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