April 01, 2004
Tokyo Metro
This year's April 1, not like "April fool", was the first day for new fiscal year for a lot of Japanese companies. "Teito Kosokudo Eidan Kodan" has renamed as "Tokyo Metro" from today. Some changes are, ... "Logo" changes like "heart mark", station name shows with alphabet and numeric character, and so on.
What is dramatially changed? So far, I do not know. But yesterday's announcement in the train was actually different from that until March 31 :-p
March 27, 2004
March 12, 2004
Pre-White Day
So-called "White Day", March 14 becomes facmous for Japanese mens as they are expected to give in return a present for chocolate on Valentine Day(February 14). As the White Day is on Sunday this year, I was returned a favor from my colleagues on Friday, March 12. Inside of this cute wrapping is a red tea of "MARINA DE BOURBON." Mitsuhiro asked me if I had asked for it return!
Not at all!! This is real favor from a colleague!
Uh, this is not a red tea but cookies:-p
March 08, 2004
March 07, 2004
The Marmottan Monet Museum Exhibition Japan 2004
We visited Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum at Ueno Parkm where "The Marmottan Monet Museum Exhibition Japan 2004" is hold. We enjoyed looking at the paintings of Claude Monet and those of other Impressionists, like Berthe Morisot.
March 03, 2004
Doll Festival （Hina-matsuri)
A pair of doll is set up for the Doll Festival(Momo-no-Sekku) on March 3 where the girl(s) is(are) in home. It is so-called "Hina-matsuri", i.e. Doll Festival for girls. While March 3 is the Girls' Festival, May 5 is famous as the Boys' festival when warrior doll or armor(Kabuto) is set up for. Each is one of the 5 seasonal festivals in ancient time in Japan. Seasonal Festivals means "lustration" and "apotropaism".
February 27, 2004
Konpira-Kabuki
We are going to go Kotohira, Kagawa Prefecture(Shikoku Island) in April for seeing so-called "Konpira Kabuki".
February 22, 2004
Final Declaration - Kakutei Shinkoku
I applied for the final income tax return at the Shbuya tax office today. From this year, tax office opens twice on Sunday. Today was the first one. I expected to be crowded there because of the people to apply a loss from sale their stocks.
I arrived at the tax office around 8:45 a.m. though I had planned to be there at 8:30 a.m....however, I was lucky! My number at the reception desk was "005". Only 4 people are in front of me!!
February 16, 2004
Bunraku puppet show
We participated a seminar and enjoyed Bunraku puppet show today.
A Japanese puppet show, "Bunraku" is with more than 300 years of tradition. "Bunraku" is currently named to the UNESCO list of world heritage.
An instructor of the seminar was Mr. Takagi, who is a well-known guide with so-called "ear-phone guide".
He becomes famous currently as he makes a comment on NHK TV provram about traditional culture. He takes a part of Bunraku, i.e. he is expert of Bunraku guide.
(a poster of "Sonezaki-Shinjyu")
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