高尾山 （ Mt.Takao / Monte Takao ）

Last Sunday I climbed up Mt.Takao, Recently it's so popular.From the center of Tokyo, it took just about 60 minutes.
I don't have so much time today, I just show some photos.

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El domingo pasado subí al Monte Takao. Ultimamente está muy poplar. Desde el centro de Tokio se tarda solo más o menos 60 minutos.
No tengo mucho tiempo hoy , por eso solo subo las fotos de allí.


mountain trail


Leaves change the color to red.


Mt.Fuji　from top of Mt. Takao. So beautiful , isn't it?


Soba noodle is very famous there. I ate this on the top.


The 599 meter mark on the top


official web site of Mt.Takao in English

The Myth of Tomorrow

There was an artist whose name was "Taro Okamoto (岡本太郎・おかもとたろう)". I don't know how much he is well known in other countries. But in Japan he is one of famous artists. Above all “Tower of the sun” that was the symbol of Expo 70 of Osaka is very famous. Not only his works , but also his unique character was loved by Japanese people. He was sayiong so often "Art is Explosion." Although he already died in 1996.

The other day I went to Shibuya that is one big city in Tokyo, I was so surprised, because one of his works was on the wall of Shibuya station. I didn't know about it, but I recognized at once it is his work, because his works are so characteristic.

After I got home, I checked about it. According to the internet, the picture was originally painted for the one Mexican hotel owner, but after that his business went bad, so that it was missing until found in Mexico City in 2003. After then it has been repaired by one project group, after all 18th of November 2008 it is put on view eternally at Shibuya station. Because Shibuya is close to Aoyama area where Taro spent at elementary school time.


This is very big(height: 5meters length: 30meters), so I couldn’t take a nice photo. But it is really powerful with a lot of colors , named “ashita no shinwa（明日の神話）” means “The Myth of Tomorrow”.　It is worth to watch.

Official web page of "Ashita no shinwa " rebirth project in Japanese
http://www.1101.com/asunoshinwa/news.html

Korean taste /El sabor de Corea

The other day I went to the Korean town in Shinokubo. In Tokyo many Korean people is living , I think. Shinokubo is a city that have very different atomosphere. There are a lot of the signs which are written in Korean letters. I can hear the people are spoken in Korean. Besides I feel smell of the city is not same as other city in Japan.

I went to one Korean restaurant where all waiter and waitress are Korean , although they speak Japanese very well.　Normally I can't eat spicy food , so I don't eat so much Korean food, but Korean BBQ is another story , I love so much. Well, I have been to there several times , but they are always with my Japanese friends. But this time I went one Korean friend. It's much better, she know the food, how to cook ,and she could order that is not in the menu.
They were so delicious. I was really satisfied. =)
At the end , we got the discount of our check. ha ha he

I have been to Korea three times , it's so close from here. I feel like going there again!!!

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El otro día fui al barrio coreano en Shinokubo. Creo que la gente coreano viven mucho en Tokio. Shinokubo tiene ambiente muy special. Hay muchas señales se escribe en Hangul . Puedo eschar la gente hablan en coreano. Además huelen diferente.

Fui al restaurante coreano donde todo los comareros son coreanos, aunque ellos pueden hablar japones muy bien. Normalmente no puedo comer la comida picante, por eso no como la comida coreano, pero me encanta carne asada coreana. A ver, he ido allí varias veces, pero siempre con mis amigos japoneses. Pero esta vez fui con una amiga coreana. Más mejor, ella sabe la comida, por eso la pidió especial . Muy delicioso. Estaba muy contenta. Finalmente el camarero hacía algún descuentos. ja ja ja
He estaco en Corea tres veces . muy cerca de aquí . Me gustaría ir ya!!!!






Samgyupsal BBQ
They cut pork with scissors!!


sea food Jijimi
I love it . We have similer food called Okonomiyaki in Japan , but taste is differ.


Tteokbokki
We ate this in the street!! taste at first sweer and then spicy!!!

Yojiya

The other day I had a cup of "Macha Moca　（Mocha green tea ,抹茶モカ)" at Yojiya in Tokyo Haneda Airport. Yojiya is well known as a cosmetic shop in Kyoto, especially one of their products "Abratorigami (Oil- Blotting Facial Paper)" is very popular among women. I guess all young women know about it!!

Although I didn't know that they have some coffee shops in Kyoto and Tokyo. But when I saw their symbol at airport, I recognized at once, because it is also well known.

As you can see in these photos, the face of the top of the drink is the symbol of the Yojiya.
Anyway, the face is pretty , isn't it??? If you have a chance to visit Kyoto or Tokyo(only Haneda airport), I think it's nice to visit, especially for women!

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Otro día tomé una taza de "Macha Moca (té verde Moca 抹茶モカ)" en Yojiya en aeropuerto de Tokio Haneda , Yojiya es muy conocido por una tienda de cosmética en Kioto, especialmente el producto "Abratorigami (no sé como se dice en eapañol , pero en ingles se llama Oil- Blotting Facial Paper)" es muy popular entre las chicas.
Creo que toda chicas lo conocen.

Entonces la cara de bebida es muy bonita. Si tenéis una oportunidad de visitar Kioto o Tokio (solo en el aeropuerto de Haneda ) , creo que es bueno visitar.

Festivals in Tokyo/ unas fiestas en Tokio

As I wrote many times in this blog, we can taste many kinds of food in Tokyo. Yes, we are luckey! Not only in restaurantes, but also in festivals!
Last weekend two festivals were hold.
One in Vietnam festival in Yoyogi park , Tokyo, and the other one is Mexican festivai in Odaiba , Tokyo.

I went Vietnam festival on Saturday , and Mexican festival on Sunday. Both were interesting , they sold thier typical foods, and showed some cultural aspect like dancing , singing and so on.

I just show you some photos.

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Como escribí unas veces en esta página, podemos encontlar diferentes sabores en Tokio. Sí, ¡tenemos suerte! Hay muchas fiestas aquí.
El fin de semana pasado hubo dos fiestas en Tokio. Una fue la fiesta vietnamita en el parque Yoyogi , y la otra fue la fiesta mexicana en Odaiba.

Fui a la fiesta vietnamita el sábado, y a la fiesta mexicana el domingo. Me interesaron ambas. Se vende la comida tipica, y puede divertirme el baile o la musica. Aquí unas fotos!!


【Vietnam Festival/La fiesta vietnamita】
Only I had a few time, quickely I bought some food and ate. But it was so nice. Recently I am a bit crazy of eating vietnamies food!!! I really like it! There many women put on their nacional costume called "ao dai (áo dài)". They were so beautiful. One of my friends is going to Vietnam for her vacation. Lucky her!!

Sólo tuve un poco de tiempo , compré y comí la comida de prisa , pero estaba muy delicioso . Últimamente estoy loca por la comida vietnamita. Me encanta.
Vi unas mujeres vestidas con la ropa nacional que se llama "ao dai (áo dài)". Ellas son muy bonitas. Una amiga mía va a viajar a Vietnam de vacaciónes. ¡Qué envidia!


Spring Roll!/Rollito de primavera!



So many people!/Mucha gente!




【Mexican Festival/La fiesta mexicana】

I can't eat spicy food, so it made me a bit difficult when I went to Mexico, but the Mexican people were always nice to me. That's one of the fascinating point of them. Listing music like Mariachi reminds me of my mexican friends!
Well, unfortunately the day I went , it was heavy raining, but still I could enjoyed a lot!

No puedo comer algo picante. Cuando estaba en México de vacaciones, fue un poco duro para mi.
Pero los mexicanos eran muy amarbles, creo que esto es una fascinante de esta páis. Escuchando la musica en la fiesta ,recordé a mis amigos mexicanos. Lo pasé muy bien , aunque llovía mucho.


Tacos, please , but without spicy sause!!! PLEASE!
Un tacos , por favor ,pero sin salsa, POR favor.




I can't wait!!!/No puedo esperarlo.



Mariach!!

Can't wait tomorrow night !!!

Maroon5 is in Japan now ! They are my favorite, Actually I like them the best of the non-japanese singers. Tomorrow , I am going to their Live!!!Wow! Compare with their popularity , the capacity of the live place was so small that amde me difficult to get the ticket.　But I am very luckey to be one of the audience. I like Adam's voice, feel very coolthie songs...etc.

About 3years ago I went to their live once in the U.S. So great. I can't find the exact words to express my feeling by my English vocaburary. It was so happy night!

I wish the member of maroon5 would read this blog, so they can know how much Japanese people are exciting. hehehe Anyway can't wait!

more lines

As I wrote the other day, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is very popular here. Still need to wait to get ones. Since one of my friend never tried yet, she really want some, I went there again. Sunday morning 9:30. I thought that I had to wait still now, but as it past already 6month since the shop opened, hopefully maybe 20-30minutes?

I was so surprised the situation, I could see much longer line than before.



Two hours for Doughnuts !!! For me inpossible. Gaveup at onece.
Maybe because they had special limited star-shaped ones!

At Tsukiji Market

As I wrote before, the Tsukiji fish market is nice place to to, we can eat fresh sish, can see gigante tunas at the auction. In some turistic guidebook published in foreign countries, it is introduced as a great tourist point. You will be surprised the characteristic atomosphere there. Now everyday on average more than 500 foreigners visit this place. Before writing this post, I read some blogs written by torists from overseas. They seemed satisfied so much about thier trip ti Tsukiji. It is about there past four or five years the number of the foreigners increased drastically.　It is considered that there is a kind of "Sushi Boom"in many countries.

However, in proportion to tourists increasing , the badness of a manner came to be outstanding.. For example, touching tuna to take photos by hands, and too many toursts for tracter to enter auction place.

The market is actually bussiness place, not to be set as a tourisut point. So if the bad manner wil keep outstanding, now they have started thinking to limit foreigners by making closed area.

It is so pity, I am not agree with this idea. But for some people who work there it must be very big problem. it won't be helped. So please please be good at the market. It it really nice place to see Japanese culture.

Tsukiji market official page in English

At the zoo

The other day I went to the Ueno Zoo (Onshi Ueno Doubutuen) which is most famous and old zoo in Japan. It opened on March 20 1882. Wow very old. It is located near Ueno station in Tokyo and convinient to go. There are many kinds of animals -more than 400kinds , one of the place that we can see a Giant panda in Japan.



Watching the animals, I could find the kind of sociality from their movement. For example, a monkey was teaseing others, a gorilla was acting like a middle age woman. (Look the photo!)It is healing power for my mental stress. So nice.


As for the Ueno zoo, I would like write one story.To be honest I was thinking for a while to do, because you may think it political topic, I am afraid that how non-Japanese people think about it. But anyway I determind to tell it finally.

In Japan at summer time the students take the class about war and peace. Because the world war Ⅱfinished on August 15 1945　after twice of the atomic bombing .Then one story was used for the classes often. When I was a child, I listened the story, the book was still published, so far more than 2million copies have sold. This is nonfiction story.

"the poor elephants"
The aerial attacks to Tokyo was getting worse, the goverment decided to kill fierce animals to avoid them runnning from the zoo, and acting violently in the city. Lions and bears were killed. The three elephants nemed "John" ,"Tonky"and" Wanly" had left.
The people who worked at the zoo gave them feed with poison to kill then, they threw up soon. Then they used injections to kill them, their skin was too thick. Finally they decided not to give them feed to make them strving. The three elephants were trying to perform in a desperate attempt to get their feed. At last they died one after another.

Just writing this story makes me cry, this story is true, and many kinds of animals except lions bears and elephants were died mostly for the luck of the feed when the war had ended. There is the memorila place in Ueno zoo, and still now they take place memorial service for the animals.

Sometimes I take it for granted that I can live a life peacefully. But I have to remember just 60years ago the people's living was completly different, I am lucky to be born such a peace situation. I felt like this at the zoo.

TOKYO MARATHON 2007⑤～ memories

Needless to say, I ran with my camera:)

■Many people heading the start area■



■Before start -freezing and raining■


■START-Tokyo governer Shintaro Ishihara waving his hands■



■Many audience in front of Asakusa Kaminarimon-very famous sight seeing spot■



■on the road for vehicles usually■


■GOAL■

TOKYO MARATHON 2007④～ finish

Yes, I became the one of the finisher at the end.
Really, it was tough.

At goal point, I could find one friend, she told that she was cheerig my and other frinds at other points , too. When I saw her, I really thank her and relieved.
At that time "I was very hungry, starving---". as many runnner who couln't get food.

The record is not good, and was so close to limited time.
It's no problem. I am satisfied.



It has passed almost 2months.
Since then I am jogging 2-3 times a week. Better than before , you can guess:)
Well, it is so surprising to me that I really enjoying jogging now. I am sure I will apply the 2008 Tokyo marathon again , although I need luck to win the lottery. When I was child , I HATED RUNNING. Don't laugh, I am changing...much to my surprise.

Next time , I want to goal by ruuning insted of walking!

There are many marathon in the world, I like traveling so , when I go abroad if I would join , would be nice.....

If you are interested....
http://www.tokyo42195.org/

TOKYO MARATHON 2007③～ in the rain

Harder than I imagined- this was my frank feeling.

My plastic raincoat made me harder to run. Still so cold ,although I started to run. Through the Shinjuku- the biggest down town Tokyo, there were so many people cheering us. Waving their hands, having the sign board with a messege, yelling "Ganbare!!(Cheer up.)" My tears leaked from the corner of my eyes naturally.

Raining getting harder and harder.

The marathon course was selected to the runners can enjoy with many sight seeing points and flatted.I have lived in Tokyo quite long -maybe 8-9years. I knew the all places on race course. But the scenery was totally different. Newness and rediscovery. I felt happy and lucky to run on the roads which are usually for cars , and not permitted to walk .

When I passed Hibiya park where was the goal of 10km race, it rained so hard. I saw many runner head for 10 km. "Wow, should I have choosen 10km?? Still I had more than 30km....." I knew at that park they prepared for foot bath, I really wanted to go. At that time , extremely cold . I had some candy and snack in my belt bag , but too cold to open them. I was cring for cold.

Around the 20km, I felt pain on left knee. "I didn't have enough time for training." I had to walk as fast as possible insted of runnning. Already I was in late group .I felt a kind of jealousy a little bit to the runners they already pass the returning point. But some runner, when they run pass , spork words of cheer like "Let's goal by everybody". I was really happy.

During race I saw many volunteers who smiling me with freezing in the cold. They were so great, they did perfect job. They looked so cold, needless to say, they were colder than us. I heard the many people applied for volunteers since they couldn't run because of lottery. Oh, yes more than 60000people couldn't run. I said to myslf I was lucky , I had to do my best, I had to enjoy insted of them.....

And I was so encouraged by many people along the course. They don't know me, and I don't know them, but they cheered and supported with full of their passion. In fact this was the very first city Marathon in Tokyo, many amount of foods and water were prepared, water was fine, but the food were not enough- it might be much colder than they expected. Anyway, we were severe lack of foods. Only the fast runners could get foods from the official aid. Some runners who had some money with them would go to the convenience store to buy something to eat. After Asakusa area- about 30km from the start point- the people noticed the runners were so hungry, many people offer us candy, sweet, soup, hot tea that gave us the energy for another step.

My legs were so heavy, but I want to say thank you to those who imvolved this marathon.

The goal was coming soon.

【to be continued】

TOKYO MARATHON 2007②～ START

On that day I woke up 4 o'clock in the moning, actually I didn' mean it, I was going to get up around 5:30, yes, I was nervous . It was raining hard, as suspected. But I didn't think of call off this event , I don' t know why. After breakfast , I head for Shinjuku where was the very "START" of this marathon.

In Shinjuku station I saw many people prepareing for the race, with the numbers on their T-shirts. Many ,so many people. Still raining and cold. Before I deposit my belongings, I made a phone call to one of my friends who also was going to run this race. "How are you????"etc.... I was tring to find where are they.... but I gave up at once because of the big crowd.

The runner must be at start position that they designed as a block decided depends on the declaration of the time to goal.As I submitted it by 6:40, I was the last block "K" . There we couldn't hear any sounds or voice from the ceremony , it was too far..... We had to wait for a quite long time before and after starting to race. I was freezing, and shaked with cold .Everubody was same. But we had fun, too. The people from the behind started the wave with yelling "Yeah-- ". The one woman on the balcony of the buiding-maybe 8th or 10th flour - was cring "Cheer up !!! " Everybody in K block was waving their hands, it was just like a greeting from the Royal Family on the new year day in imperial palace.

After 16minite passed already from the starting time , finally I was able to pass the startline with waving my hand to Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara.

The race was started.

【to be continued...】

TOKYO MARATHON 2007①

The day have came.
February 18th -Tokyo marathon 2007.
I am nervous,,,and excited. What's going on ?????


As you know , Tokyo is a capital city in Japan, is such a big city, has a big population -more than 12million and the central of political and economical of Japan , but never had a city marathon like New York, Boston , Berlin, London and Chicago. Since several years before they are planning to take place City Marathon in central Tokyo. The Governor of Tokyo had decided to hold on February 18th 2007 for the very first time . Actually there were not a few pople who express objection against it, the function of city would go down because of the traffic regulations of main roads for seven hours.

From last June to August the registration began. The applicants was three times than capacity (Entrants Marathon : 25,000 athletes , 10km Race : 5,000 athletes, but more than 95000pople entried.!!!). Only luckey 30000 people who were selected by lottary got their rights to be a runner.

Frankly saying, I was the one. When I got a email about to be ruuner on October, I was happy, but at the same time I was annoyed. How I can run 42.195km again??? It was so tough・・・・etc. (In fact I joined Walt Disney marathon 2005, so I know how difficult was it.....) But reading many poeple's blog , many people wrote about their shock from losing their lack of luck. So I decided to try the Marathon.

Although I strongly felt necessity of training , but I have been busy from last Autumn, went Mexico two weeks, had to find new apartment, and moving, in my job I had a lot to do. I couldn't have spare time for training. At last I could find my free time on January, became a member of sports gym. But obviously I needed training more and more....

【to be continued ...】

KidZania

Have you ever heard the word "KidZania"? It is a themepark which is originally from Mexico and has just started in Tokyo. According to the media, it looks so fun, I want to go there, but to my pity, I can't go there. Could be in the future. Why???

That's because KidZania is just for kids under 12. There kids can have many kinds of Job experience. For example, fire fighters, flight attendants, doctors, bankers, pizza shop clarks, and so on ... more than 70kinds.

KidZania is a very town for kids , whose size is 2/3, and there are a hospital, a TV station ,a hair salon ,a bank ,a theater, a airport and much more. It is a just miniture of the real, because many company have invested a lot as a sponsor.

Kids can get instrucutions and put on the uniforms before they work, and have a part of job, after they finishes their job, they can get salary by their current money called "Kizos" that they can used only inside KidZania! And then they can use their money to get food, and shopping ...

Sounds fun , isn't it??? Not only fun, kids can understand economy.
Nowdays birthrate is very low, a number of kids is much less than before, but instead of that many family spend much money per a kid. Yes , I think it will be successful here in Japan. I read some blogs that wrriten by mothers about their kids' Kidzania experience, most of them seemed satisfied.
Oh, I want to go. It is not allow to enter only adults there, and even inside park adults can jutt watch kids.

Should I borrow my nephew to go???

related news
KidZania Japan official web site only in Japanese
KidZania Mexico