There are so many icons of Japan advertising industry. Hello Kitty is well known, but what I 
didn't know w
as that she has no mouth because "she speaks from the heart!"
The other one is Pekko Chan. This one 'speaks to my heart' as this is also Sakurako's nickname,(lives in Kyoto and having a baby any day now!) as that is what she looked like as a little girl! Sort of!
Today was still raining so we planned local activity. Our first stop was Harajuku, and a wander down Omotesando Dori (see previous blog) to the Oriental bazaar, Japanese souvenir shop. We then headed back to the station to see Meiji Jingu Shrine; a Shinto Shrine dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. They died
in 1912 and 1914, and the shrine was built to venerate them. The current buildings were completed in 1958 from public donations after it was destroyed in the Tokyo bombing. The entrance to the Shrine has a 40ft high Tori (gate) made of Japanese cypress; the gate symbolises the separation of the outside world from the spiritual world.
There is a huge forest of trees 120,000 of 365 different species donated by the public. Located in various parts of the garden, are a tea house a fishing spot and an Iris garden, 150 varieties of Iris and 1500 plants- a sight to behold!! (seen in Summer a few years ago)
From there we went north to Ikebukuro to show Gerry the area where I lived before.We called in at the Metropolitan Plaza and Art space, where I said there are often private exhibitions on in the small halls. We went up the huge escalator (4 floors in one go) and came across an Art show, many of the works we enjoyed very much.
Back down to the lower level there was a photo exhibition of daily life, school kids, sport etc, fabulous, and opposite a show of creative writing and art. It was hard to know exactly what this was. My Japanese didn't manage that far. Lots of original books and work areas where people could ??what?? and with
other works often by children copying the syle of the book or story in their own individual style- hard to explain.
The showpiece was this fabulous boat! with moving parts The jaw oepend teh wings moved and the wheels on top turned round. There was also a book about it photos taken with small dolls in situ, and a story line But also a fabulous one where each page was cut out and as you turned it the boat gradually took shape.
We finishe dthe day with a little shopping and then dinner of Ebi (prawn) tempura at Meguro station.
didn't know w
as that she has no mouth because "she speaks from the heart!"The other one is Pekko Chan. This one 'speaks to my heart' as this is also Sakurako's nickname,(lives in Kyoto and having a baby any day now!) as that is what she looked like as a little girl! Sort of!
Today was still raining so we planned local activity. Our first stop was Harajuku, and a wander down Omotesando Dori (see previous blog) to the Oriental bazaar, Japanese souvenir shop. We then headed back to the station to see Meiji Jingu Shrine; a Shinto Shrine dedicated to the souls of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. They died
in 1912 and 1914, and the shrine was built to venerate them. The current buildings were completed in 1958 from public donations after it was destroyed in the Tokyo bombing. The entrance to the Shrine has a 40ft high Tori (gate) made of Japanese cypress; the gate symbolises the separation of the outside world from the spiritual world.There is a huge forest of trees 120,000 of 365 different species donated by the public. Located in various parts of the garden, are a tea house a fishing spot and an Iris garden, 150 varieties of Iris and 1500 plants- a sight to behold!! (seen in Summer a few years ago)
From there we went north to Ikebukuro to show Gerry the area where I lived before.We called in at the Metropolitan Plaza and Art space, where I said there are often private exhibitions on in the small halls. We went up the huge escalator (4 floors in one go) and came across an Art show, many of the works we enjoyed very much.
Back down to the lower level there was a photo exhibition of daily life, school kids, sport etc, fabulous, and opposite a show of creative writing and art. It was hard to know exactly what this was. My Japanese didn't manage that far. Lots of original books and work areas where people could ??what?? and with
other works often by children copying the syle of the book or story in their own individual style- hard to explain.The showpiece was this fabulous boat! with moving parts The jaw oepend teh wings moved and the wheels on top turned round. There was also a book about it photos taken with small dolls in situ, and a story line But also a fabulous one where each page was cut out and as you turned it the boat gradually took shape.
We finishe dthe day with a little shopping and then dinner of Ebi (prawn) tempura at Meguro station.
No comments:
Post a Comment