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|
blog-L - (2013c)
2013/12/24
"1990 Yokosuka, Zushi, Ichikawa,
etc; 2013 Hibarigaoka, Rikugien Gardens, etc."
Starting off with several views from 1990 - including a trip to
Yokosuka and Zushi on December 15th, 1990 and views of Ichikawa on
December 22nd, 1990. After that, many 2013 views, including of
Monomiyama Park, Hibarigaoka, Rikugien Gardens, Komagome, Shinjuku,
Manseibashi Bridge, Kanda, the Tobu-Tojo Line, the Chuo Line, etc. etc.
1990 手動改札出口 JR池袋駅 Manual Ticket Gates JR Ikebukuro 901213
http://youtu.be/FH9rt1HpPw0
Since this was set up specifically as an exit, the people manning the
ticket gates were there primarily to take tickets and monitor dates on
passes. Since most people are just streaming through, it almost
looks like it's automated in some way, but there was no automation at
all (although nearly all the stations became fully automated soon after
this).
The system was that most commuters had monthly (or three-month or
six-month) passes, which they held up while walking through, and the
station people in the ticket gates watched for the correct zone and
that the train pass date was still valid. You might think it
would be easy to cheat, and I witnessed some people doing so at the
time, but if you were caught, the penalty was fairly severe, so most
people were honest about it.
1990 Nishi-Shinjuku Walkabout 西新宿散策散歩 901213
http://youtu.be/5uv_utQgu2M
1990 Shinjuku to Hibarigaoka 新宿駅からひばりヶ丘駅まで 901213
http://youtu.be/kesda-Jqwis
1990年 横須賀と逗子の日帰り旅 1990 Trip to Yokosuka and Zushi 901215
http://youtu.be/aKY-NLjpF20
This one is pretty long - pretty close to two hours long in fact - so
there's a lot of information contained in this one. If you're
interested in how Yokosuka and Zushi looked in 1990, then this might be
worth watching. I think this was the only time I took video out
that way back in 1990.
1990 Ichikawa Walkabout - Walk to Ichikawamama Station 市川と市川真間駅 901222
http://youtu.be/JBtJVm-6gxA
1990 Ichikawamama to Ueno 市川真間駅から上野駅まで 901222
http://youtu.be/pZJSM54bqPg
1990 Ueno Ameyokocho Walkabout 上野アメヤ横丁辺り散策散歩 901222
http://youtu.be/kocPjMEqXVo
In some ways, Ameyokocho hasn't changed. If you go there today,
the same type of shops are still noisily conducting business.
What I think has changed however, is that back when I took this, it
seemed like most of the people walking around were there for shopping,
whereas the last few times I went to this area towards the end of the
year, it seemed very much like the majority of people filling the
streets were there just to witness the event of a lot of people being
there. Not only were not many people even attempting to shop, but
the crowd density was so high that it was nearly impossible to even get
close to the shops. About all you could do was flow along
(uncomfortably) in the river of tightly packed people.
Gallery Ginza One December 2013 Exhibition Party ギャラリー銀座ワンの2013年12月展示会
131209
http://youtu.be/ixkxPo51Y2o
Chuo Line Twilight View 中央線夕暮れ武蔵境駅から三鷹駅まで 131129
http://youtu.be/zYM2k3f0B0E
Chuo Line View of Ochanomizu to Tokyo 中央線で御茶ノ水駅から東京駅まで 131209g
http://youtu.be/Hwmq9ooD6q0
Outbound Tobu Tojo Line View 下り東武東上線窓の風景 131204
http://youtu.be/kfau7O2mCuM
Hibarigaoka Kitaguchi Shotengai View ひばりが丘北口商店街散策散歩 131204
http://youtu.be/g0qh51IuLnk
The introduction of large-box discount shops and Internet shopping has
taken a lot of business away from the old shotengai shopping
streets. So much so, that they are now rapidly
disappearing. I know the trend, but I was still surprised to see
a whole section of the east exit Hibarigaoka shotengai simply gone -
with a large area of vacant dirt in its place.
Hibarigaoka Station Night Walkabout ひばりヶ丘駅夜散策散歩 131204
http://youtu.be/7h1MeZK52zo
Keio Line Shinjuku Station Evening View 京王線新宿駅内の夕方様子 131209
http://youtu.be/_RXtj70-WUY
Shinjuku to Osaki Twilight View 夕暮れ新宿から大崎まで 湘南新宿線 131206
http://youtu.be/r2jNcmZOYxs
Shinjuku Construction Site seen from Platform 新宿ホームからの工事現場の様子 131129
http://youtu.be/tVOqO8EF4hs
For the last few weeks, this has looked more or less the same, but once
they start building upwards, things will progress rapidly and this view
will be gone for... not forever, but for the next few generations
presumably.
Keio Line Night Window View 京王線夜窓の風景 上り電車 131209
http://youtu.be/wBWsUboxlBA
Keio Line Window View Arrival at Shinjuku 京王線新宿駅に到着と駅内 131209
http://youtu.be/DKU9YqUMDxc
Bus 360 Look in Parking Lot at End of Line 131204
http://youtu.be/AyXdHgqXzkE
I was in the area, so I decided to ride a bus to the end of the line
just to see what was there. What was there was a residential-only
suburbia that felt very uncomfortable to be in as an outsider.
Bus Stop in Suburbia 131204
http://youtu.be/f4zyRoKnH_4
It was a relief to escape suburbia (see video below). My visit
there was a weird experience. In most areas of Tokyo, you can
ride a train somewhere, and when you get off and walk around, there's
generally something of interest to see, and it's fun to explore.
This suburbia with only residential houses was a spooky/scary
experience. Used to more friendly streets in Tokyo, I felt very
uncomfortable in this area. Only one person very openly and very
rudely stared at me, but I could feel that it was basically a closed
area that didn't like strangers visiting, so I got out of there in a
hurry and plan on never ever ever returning.
Exiting Suburbia via Bus バスでニュータウンを出る 131204g
http://youtu.be/fPti5Qdp3Fg
川越市駅で東武東上線 Boarding Tobu Tojo Line at Kawagoeshi Station 131204
http://youtu.be/sC1wXy-ojwU
物見山公園の秋木 Autumn Trees in Monomiyama Park 131204
http://youtu.be/0E4ri-YykgA
六義園 秋の夜A Rikugien Gardens Autumn Night Stroll 131203
http://youtu.be/oCjai4dX5mA
This old, traditional garden in Tokyo is only open at night twice a
year - for about a week in the springtime and about a week in the
autumn.
六義園 秋の夜B Rikugien Gardens Autumn Night Stroll 131203
http://youtu.be/fcYMO31PBE4
1130PM Shinjuku Station Platform 夜の新宿駅ホームの様子 Waiting 131203
http://youtu.be/cqX1JEcmDlE
Evening Ikebukuro Station and Street on East Side 池袋 駅から東口まで 131204
http://youtu.be/yevOogm94n4
FC View Arriving at Seibu Takadanobaba Station 西武高田馬場駅に到着 131203
http://youtu.be/RMr4UZdulJo
FCV Takadanobaba to Shinjuku on the Seibu Shinjuku Line 高田馬場駅から西部新宿駅
131203g
http://youtu.be/L1fs5kIyPus
Ikebukuro East Sidewalk Stroll 池袋夜東口散策散歩 131204
http://youtu.be/rHo_bwtPM8o
Komagome Station Platform Stroll at Night 駒込駅夜ホームの様子 131203
http://youtu.be/1JkKY7WzJ0o
Near Komagome Station Looking Around at Night 夜の駒込大通 131203
http://youtu.be/OIcDQ8VIr_Q
Riding Empty Bus in Saitama 埼玉の空バスを乗る 131204
http://youtu.be/UPuBdehayno
Away from central Tokyo, the car culture introduced from the US rules
and although there are buses, they are often nearly empty. For
this ride, I was the only passenger.
Shinjuku Chuo Line Platform 360 at Night 新宿駅中央線夜ホーム３６０ 131129
http://youtu.be/HJooSz3OmW8
7th to 5th Floor Stroll 七階から五階の散策 131207
http://youtu.be/lde-4FOZqO4
Walking through part of an atmospheric old 1930's building in Ginza.
Ceiling Details in 1930s Basement Room 131207
http://youtu.be/CSsDMuuXwpE
夕暮れ埼京線ホーム隣工事現場 Saikyo Line Platformside Construction 131206
http://youtu.be/yD44Tj62FH4
立川駅での最終上り中央線 1248AM Last Inbound Train at Tachikawa 131210
http://youtu.be/OQ1oR4ZVMp8
Late Night Chuo Line Train Arriving at NishiKokubunji 中央線 131210
http://youtu.be/8Uue5Tgl4JU
Tokyo Yaesu Side Construction Zone 東京駅八重洲口工事現場 131207
http://youtu.be/ed_nnOqkM6c
Train Passing in the Night 夜の電車が通る 131204
http://youtu.be/TjUwG4-2P7w
Walking Towards JR Section of Shinjuku Station from Keio Line 131209
http://youtu.be/QX7K1qQbwaM
Making the transfer from the Keio Line to one of the JR lines.
Yurakucho Izakaya Tunnel 有楽町居酒屋アーチ 131207
http://youtu.be/n9t7UF3y3XE
Yurakucho to Tokyo via Yamanote Line 山手線で有楽町から東京まで 131207
http://youtu.be/d6VTvCCrfbM
北野駅で京王線を乗る Boarding Keio Line Train at Kitano 131209
http://youtu.be/v5t92zU_360
Late Night Platform View While Waiting for Last Train of the Night
131208
http://youtu.be/SgBLkjgFeOU
1246AM Mostly Empty Chuo Line Train 夜中のがらがら中央線 131210
http://youtu.be/-gQoHXksTMI
I read somewhere (and I've heard, and I believe) that the Chuo Line is
- on average over the whole day - the most crowded train line in all of
Japan, so it's not often that you see a nearly empty Chuo Line train,
but getting on one at 12:46 a.m. is one way of seeing the train lightly
loaded.
Osaki Escalator to Yamanote Platform 大崎駅山手線ホームまでのエスカレーター 131206
http://youtu.be/V5BfcKT5oEE
Departing Shinjuku Station via Chuo Line at Night 中央線 131209
http://youtu.be/lhTlJRX6HFU
Ikebukuro Street to Platform 池袋東口から西武池袋線ホームまで 131204
http://youtu.be/WM3zCgFqr64
Side Streets in Hibarigaoka ひばりが丘の夜横道 131204n
http://youtu.be/hghxyXjnJYo
Hibarigaoka Railroad Crossing Trains ひばりヶ丘駅隣の踏切電車 131204
http://youtu.be/fcss7mjFgn4
Escalator to Outbound Platform at Hibarigaoka Station 131204
http://youtu.be/wwsGdW2g6v8
Hibarigaoka Nighttime Outbound Platform 夜のひばりヶ丘駅下りホーム 131204
http://youtu.be/Tevi35--vAQ
Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Seibu Shinjuku Line Transfer at Tokorozawa
131204
http://youtu.be/6IKq5ezy8TA
Late Night City Flowing By 夜の窓ビュー 131210
http://youtu.be/SFyRzre98F0
Takasaka Station Bus Stop 360 高坂駅バス停３６０ 131211
http://youtu.be/xZ45qJzPkm0
Edge of Monomiyama Park 物見山公園の秋ビュー 131211
http://youtu.be/AU62KOynSeA
End of Platform View at Tobu Tojo Line Ikebukuro Station 池袋東武東上線 131211
http://youtu.be/MwFSZji0vUI
Manseibashi Bridge Twilight 360 夕暮れ万世橋の橋３６０ 131211
http://youtu.be/oCuLRATT_Rk
Chuo Line Train Passing Former Manseibashi Station Platform 131211
http://youtu.be/KxtHmFGSJjI
御茶ノ水駅工事現場と中央線を乗る Ochanomizu Station Construction Etc 131211
http://youtu.be/tLfcOyYF8Po
Ochanomizu is one of the few steel and wood stations left in Tokyo, but
it looks like that steel and wood is about to vaporize via the ever
hungry Godzilla Construction Industry Monster (GCIM). Presumably,
JR (Japan Railways... or is it Japan Retail?) will be building yet
another shopping mall with train access (SMWTA) here.
Arriving at Shinjuku via Chuo Line 中央線で新宿駅へ 131213
http://youtu.be/8JJIxCUNm-g
Tokyo Station Yaesu Side Newly Opened Bus Loading Zone 131214
http://youtu.be/O78YJ7Ep4QY
あっ! 危ない!! ポスター Nihonbashi Station 日本橋駅 131214
http://youtu.be/zIICZIZQzYY
A view of a platform poster warning drinkers to be careful not to
fall off the platform and reminding people that the trains can be
stopped by pressing one of the many emergency stop buttons on the
platform.
Boarding Tozai Line Train at Nihonbashi 日本橋駅で東西線を乗る 131214
http://youtu.be/r7p4u3SVnOE
Shinjuku South Exit 新宿駅南口 西新宿向き Nishi-Shinjuku Bound 131210
http://youtu.be/8_pLP-N9b2s
Kanda Under Bridge Construction View 神田駅橋下の工事様子 131210
http://youtu.be/KY2X0LCGI3I
神田駅工事現場西口 Kanda Station Construction West Side 131210
http://youtu.be/k_zYNTp55YU
Kanda Station Construction Southeast Side 神田駅工事現場南口 131210
http://youtu.be/gg-iHlcjt-s
Kanda Station Quick 360 Platform View 夜の神田駅ホームの様子 131210
http://youtu.be/FkSMolfjpBs
Tobu Tojo Line Train Arriving at Takasaka Station 高坂駅の東武東上線 131211
http://youtu.be/aWC2TOqLQlM
Tobu Tojo Line Empty Train Carriage Stroll 東武東上線の空車両散策散歩 131211
http://youtu.be/hOBQqkkaZ7k
Tobu Tojo Line Ikebukuro Station Platform Stroll 東武東上線池袋駅ホーム 131211
http://youtu.be/xAyhT2qVlwI
Akihabara Station Platforms 秋葉原駅ホームの様子 131211
http://youtu.be/ZAjS2xwpBk8
Tozai Line Train Arriving at Nihonbashi Station 日本橋駅の東西線 131211
http://youtu.be/-yH4QuiYTRU
Nihonbashi to Otemachi via Tozai Line 東西線で日本橋から大手町まで 131211
http://youtu.be/aGVoyjXynZY
Nihonbashi Station 日本橋駅 Street to Platform 道からホームまで 131214
http://youtu.be/C1CrrK4nZq0
Kanda Station-side 360 神田駅３６０ビュー 131210
http://youtu.be/_yCeq6h2K_c
Observation Deck Lookaround 展望台の見回る 埼玉ピースミュージアム 131211
http://youtu.be/Pr3FvBvKFfI
Night Trains at Shoheibashi 昌平橋辺りの夜電車 光と水反射 131211
http://youtu.be/MILXQpZAChU
Ochanomizu Station Hijiribashi Entrance to Platform 御茶ノ水駅の聖橋口 131211
http://youtu.be/uuuTPSzjS6w
Kanda to Tokyo via Chuo Line 中央線で神田駅から東京駅まで 131211
http://youtu.be/Eha8ztdxv34
600pm Tokyo Station Concourse 東京駅通路の夕方様子 131211
http://youtu.be/klrJjV2LKpI
万世橋グラスビュー Manseibashi Glass View 131210
http://youtu.be/0mV7NNdJFWU
Boarding Tobu-Tojo Line Train at Kawagoeshi 東武東上線の川越駅ホーム 131218
http://youtu.be/1ACgShOFtuY
Kawagoeshi to Takasaka via Tobu-Tojo Line 川越駅から高坂駅まで 東武東上線で 131218
http://youtu.be/dkrxRXqjNEY
NRA Red Arrow Departing Hon-Kawagoe 本川越駅からNRAレッドアローが出発 131218
http://youtu.be/t8HYVsD5muc
所沢駅で止まってるレトロ色のNRA Old Paint Scheme Red Arrow NRA at Tokorozawa 131218
http://youtu.be/hjEJ0S17zb8
Ordering Curry and Rice from Talking Vending Machine 喋る機械から注文をする 131219
http://youtu.be/HLnyfINN7gc
There have been machines to buy tickets from for restaurants like this
for at least two decades, but this is the first one I've seen that
talks back and uses a computer touch screen instead of standard (or
should I say "old type"?) buttons.
New Old Style Izakaya 新古形居酒屋 131219
http://youtu.be/59tnbSjyBik
Now that genuinely old structures in Tokyo have been nearly completely
eradicated, the very few (and very rare) ones left are suddenly popular
- to the point that they've started decorating sections of new
buildings to look like the old type that are nearly extinct. This
izakaya in a modern concrete building is one such example. As
long as you don't look up at the modern concrete ceiling, you could
almost think you were in a traditional old wooden izakaya.
Yamanote to Chuo Line Transfer at Shinjuku 新宿駅の山手線から中央線まで 131219
http://youtu.be/nUK58A_FwjI
Inside Packed Late Night Chuo Line Train 忘年会シーズンの満人夜中央線内部 131219
http://youtu.be/9knhvL8uJec
For the most part, you can't really politely take pictures inside a
really crowded train, but when I looked around on this particular
occasion, I noticed that no one was facing me, so I was able to take
this quick view inside a packed train without showing anyone's face.
湘南新宿ライン東海道線直通特別快速 新宿駅から大崎駅まで SSLTCTK 131220
http://youtu.be/0UnUjWdNN3E
Shinjuku Construction by Saikyo Line 新宿夜工事現場 131220
http://youtu.be/GaMrZbMIOwk
Hon-Kawagoe to Minami-Otsuka via Seibu Line 西武線で本川越駅から南大塚駅まで 131218g
http://youtu.be/l0e3yiuLOK4
End of Platform at Honkawagoe 本川越駅で急行が到着します 131218
http://youtu.be/Smr5pAdakS4
Komagome in a Cold December Rain 駒込での冷たい十二月の夜雨 131219g
http://youtu.be/5xAR2fduevc
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/12/08
"1991 Kawasaki, Yokohama, Etc;
2013 Monomiyama Park, Shinjuku, Hamamatsucho, Etc."
This batch of videos begins with views from November 1991 showing
Kawasaki, Yokohama, and Hiyoshi. After the 1991 views, are many
views from 2013, including the usual views of central Tokyo (Shinjuku,
Hamamatsucho, Ginza, etc.), as well as views from an area I've not
covered before - Monomiyama Park, and the nearby Saitama Peace Museum
(Peace Museum of Saitama). In Hamamatsucho are views of the band
Kiki performing live outside, near the station. After other 2013
views, are several more views from November 1991, showing several train
trips - mainly on the Yamanote Line, but also including two fairly
detailed trips (outbound at night, and inbound in the daytime) on the
Tokyu-Ikegami Line.
I've been a bit busy, and so haven't had time to get together photos
for this batch of videos, so I'll just put one photo at the top of the
page and the links below. Looking over the titles, I may comment
here and there, but there isn't much time....
1991 - Kawasaki Station Area 川崎駅辺り (911116)
http://youtu.be/Ojz0CSFhIq0
1991 - Kawasaki to Yokohama (Tokaido Line) 川崎駅-横浜駅 東海道線 (911116)
http://youtu.be/3gwKfPFKLjE
This is a nostalgic one for me, as I used to often ride in this type of
train on the Tokaido Line (the current trains are of a different
design).
1991 - Yokohama Station Area 横浜駅辺り (911116na)
http://youtu.be/Y7eXSoKUK98
1991 - Yokohama to Hiyoshi Etc 横浜駅-日吉駅-渋谷駅-池袋駅など (911116)
http://youtu.be/TT5pWHs7jUI
Shinjuku to Osaki (Yamanote Line) 新宿駅-大崎駅 山手線左右側 (131108)
http://youtu.be/9g7tP9XiV8o
Takahashi Keiko 高橋敬子 Exhibition at Gallery Kobo 巷房 (131107)
http://youtu.be/99I9jtia9vc
The artist explains (in Japanese) her art in this one, as the view goes
from one painting to another at the exhibition.
Departing Koenji Late at Night 夜遅くの高円寺駅から出発 (131105n)
http://youtu.be/eO3bKyhzavE
新宿駅夜のホーム Waiting for Late Night Train at Shinjuku Station (131105)
http://youtu.be/9DKLFPUsvtM
Shinjuku to Ebisu (Shinjuku Construction) 新宿駅-恵比寿駅 新宿工事 (131107)
http://youtu.be/yNJxWYDH2lA
Walking by Tokyo Tower (131107)
http://youtu.be/c3I7NEldZ88
Tree Lighting in Kyobashi 京橋の夜光 (131107)
http://youtu.be/W4Vpysw_lF8
Boarding Tobu Line Train 東武線を乗る (131113)
http://youtu.be/iylEyZ06lgk
Ebisu to Hiro (Hibiya Line) 恵比寿駅-広尾駅 日比谷線 (131114)
http://youtu.be/iAFPp4SfY7E
Bug Theme Exhibition at Art Space Rondo - November 2013 (131114)
http://youtu.be/cg2L1g9Fu8M
Waiting for a Walk Light in Kyobashi 京橋でシグナルを待っている (131114)
http://youtu.be/Upzt_y3DVbs
Late Night Train Aisle 夜遅くの電車通路 (131114)
http://youtu.be/VMVbiL47KkM
Old Type Train - Outbound from Tachikawa 立川駅から下り電車 (131118)
http://youtu.be/B3Mb7jJgWgY
This train is of the same type (or nearly the same, I'm not sure it's
actually the exact same model) as the old Tokaido Line train shown
further up the page in a 1991 view. I'm glad some of these are
still on the rails, since they have so much more character than the
newer types.
Outbound Chuo Line - Old Type Train 下り中央線 (131118)
http://youtu.be/soKDhu5JQzg
Entering Hamamatsucho Station 浜松町駅に入る (131107)
http://youtu.be/TPEyjGd5XW4
夜の浜松町駅ホーム Waiting for and Boarding Train in Hamamatsucho (131107)
http://youtu.be/-1Z7UKuWPfw
Yamanote Line Departing Yurakucho 有楽町駅の山手線出発 (131107)
http://youtu.be/iadmLPWgKFs
Evening Yurakucho Station Platform 有楽町駅ホームの夕方様子 (131107)
http://youtu.be/-62W4iUKSOY
Yamanote Line Train Passing Osaki Station 大崎駅を通る山手線 (131108)
http://youtu.be/LhM66nF14-c
Exiting Shinjuku Station via South Exit 新宿駅南改札口 (131112)
http://youtu.be/0Xn0LSSgxZE
Shinjuku Station Open Platforms at Night 新宿駅夜オープンホーム (131112)
http://youtu.be/x_AxwKdKbJY
夜新宿駅ホームの流れ Shinjuku Platform Flowing by Window (131114)
http://youtu.be/c7BInm5YSRE
Monomiyama Park A 物見山公園 秋 (131113)
http://youtu.be/S3Kz2AqETwU
Monomiyama Park B 物見山公園 秋 (131113)
http://youtu.be/lkS__6SYrNg
Monomiyama Park C 物見山公園 秋 (131113)
http://youtu.be/OPzj-qNo13c
Saitama Peace Museum Entrance 埼玉県平和資料館入り口 (131113)
http://youtu.be/oybfabJ91SM
Riding Elevator up Observation Tower at Saitama Peace Museum (131113)
http://youtu.be/XC_c69I2v7I
Trees in an Autumn Breeze (131113)
http://youtu.be/zZySVtZvrww
Night Train Side Window View 夜電車の横窓風景 (131113)
http://youtu.be/XWfY_6y-qRQ
Hamamatsucho Evening Sidewalk 浜松町散策散歩 (131114)
http://youtu.be/_Df0YmFhSs4
Late Twilight in Yaesu (Looking Over at Tokyo Station) 八重洲東京駅 (131114)
http://youtu.be/_iKX_WggBsw
Observation Tower View - Peace Museum of Saitama (131113)
http://youtu.be/Wrj_F29UcMk
夕暮れ時の浜松町 Twilight in Hamamatsucho (131107g)
http://youtu.be/b_jg9Dwqy38
Twilight Bridge Stroll 夕暮れの橋散策散歩 (131113g)
http://youtu.be/J7D45Jy4zGw
Kiki - キンモクセイ - 浜松町ライブ Hamamatsucho Live (Set-1 Song-2) 131121
http://youtu.be/Y6TsqFWobOM
Tokyo Station 730pm - Concourse Stroll - 東京駅コンコース散策 (131121)
http://youtu.be/vePg2kU_TKU
Nihonbashi Alley Stroll 日本橋小路散策散歩 (131121)
http://youtu.be/TIYN4LsWrWg
Tokyo Station 820pm - Concourse Stroll - 東京駅コンコース散策 (131121)
http://youtu.be/dSm1wxjj_Mw
Departing Shinjuku Station at Night 夜の新宿駅から出発 (131122)
http://youtu.be/I_AmieBGT_k
Kokubunji to Shinjuku (Chuo Line) 国分寺駅-新宿駅 中央線左側 (131121)
http://youtu.be/2brD8fTi0Zg
Shinjuku to Osaki 新宿駅-大崎駅 湘南新宿ライン東海道線直通快速 (131122)
http://youtu.be/hXKfqfon5UI
Kiki - カテゴライズ (Categorize) - 浜松町ライブ Hamamatsucho Live (Set-1 Song-3)
131121
http://youtu.be/0Vs2rtxGrX0
Kiki - パスワード (Password) - 浜松町ライブ Hamamatsucho Live (Set-2 Song-1) 131121
http://youtu.be/IkaRO71bnbk
Kiki - 砂時計 (Hourglass) - 浜松町ライブ Hamamatsucho Live (Set-2 Song-4) 131121
http://youtu.be/7oc67IQT7sE
Kiki - ハッピーバースデー (Happy Birthday) 浜松町ライブ Hamamatsucho Live (Set-3
Song-3) 131121
http://youtu.be/J0zCBCNmOE4
Kiki - 誰も知らない小さな世界 - 浜松町ライブ Hamamatsucho Live (Set-4 Song-5) 131121
http://youtu.be/Get646FoC3c
Shinjuku to Ebisu (Yamanote Line) 新宿駅-恵比寿駅 山手線 (131121)
http://youtu.be/ZncPuuvmbGg
Evening Stroll in Hamamatsucho 浜松町の夕方散歩 (131121)
http://youtu.be/X3sMLmGq2pE
夕暮れの大崎 Twilight Osaki (131122)
http://youtu.be/FlTl9eMehlc
Chuo Line Night Window Reflections 中央線夜の反射 (131119g)
http://youtu.be/ZzcfXFm8jsU
Bus Ride Through Light and Shadow 光と影の走るバス (131120g)
http://youtu.be/nHuer0Gg0AA
Unusually, I was the only passenger on a bus I got on, so I sat in the
very back and looked up the aisle, enjoying the light and shadows from
the winter afternoon sun shining through the right side windows.
1991 - Hibarigaoka to Ikebukuro (Seibu Line) ひばりヶ丘駅-池袋駅 西武池袋線 (911123)
http://youtu.be/fzwY-EtvSQA
1991 - 新品自動改札口 西武池袋線 Seibu-Ikebukuro - New Ticket Gates (911123)
http://youtu.be/d-JXlxHLNaA
Regarding the automatic ticket gates and their implementation in Tokyo,
there seems to be a lot of confusion recently about when they were
installed (judging from comments I've received from viewers, as well as
conversations I've had). I had also begun to forget the precise
timing, but in watching the (carefully dated) videos I took in
1990 and 1991, what's evident is that there were no automatic ticket
gates in Tokyo in early 1990 (not in the places I went in in any case),
and then later in the year they began installing them. But while
they began installing them in 1990, it wasn't until late 1991 that most
of the city (the major stations anyway) had them.
Also, they weren't uniformly installed at each station as they were
implemented. For example, they were first installed at the south
exit of Shinjuku Station, but the other exits of the station remained
manually run for some time (months I think - the evidence is in the
videos somewhere!) after the south exit gates went automatic.
1991 - Ikebukuro (East Side) Walkabout 池袋 東口散策散歩 (911123n)
http://youtu.be/lYN3saJr2LQ
Fukuda Akio 福田璋夫 Woodblock Print Exhibition 木版展示会 (131128)
http://youtu.be/wb-JZyMD_bI
I've always been attracted to and interested in the old woodblock
prints of Japan, so I found this to be a really fascinating exhibition
(of new woodblock prints made with traditional techniques). The
artist explained the historically and artistically interesting process
in some detail for me (and the camera). It's in Japanese, but
even if you don't understand the language, much of the process can be
understood just from carefully watching, as he points to the areas on
the actual wood blocks he hand carved and the printed results on washi-paper. If you're
interested in woodblock prints and the techniques involved, you may
well want to see this one.
Thinking back, there was something he told me that I think might not be
in this video - specifically, the way the paper must be kept a little
damp, from the beginning of the process to the end, for two
reasons. One is that ink isn't absorbed well by dry paper
(leading to uneven coloring) and the other is to keep the *size* of the
paper the same, as paper shrinks when it dries. (The reason it's
important that the paper size not change during the multi-plate
printing process is for registration purposes.)
中央線特別快速 三鷹駅-中野駅 Chuo Line Special Rapid - Mitaka to Nakano (131128)
http://youtu.be/toIdzdNhYME
Shinjuku to Ebisu Left Side View 新宿駅-恵比寿駅 左側の風景 (131128)
http://youtu.be/6zfrw1dxvVM
Yoshikawa Kiyoshi 吉川潔 (A) Exhibition at Ginza Hakko 木の香 (131128)
http://youtu.be/vUZMva8Nbag
Yoshikawa Kiyoshi 吉川潔 (B) Exhibition at Ginza Hakko 木の香 (131128)
http://youtu.be/ryXxVC-U1hs
Former Under-Bridge Area in Ginza 銀座元橋の下 (131128)
http://youtu.be/kmqlzYKigpU
Tokyo Station Yaesu Side Construction Zone Etc 東京駅八重洲口 工事など (131128)
http://youtu.be/I7WDemkmDqU
Trains Arriving at Kawagoeshi Station (Tobu-Tojo Line) 川越市駅電車 東武東上線
(131127)
http://youtu.be/iFIm01T0lcs
Autumn Woods 秋の森 (131127)
http://youtu.be/MDTp9JxzFTw
End-to-End Cabs on Tobu-Tojo Line 東武東上線社内部分 (131127)
http://youtu.be/ScdwD5q6EDQ
Chuo Line Window View on Way to Mitaka 中央線窓風景 三鷹駅向かう (131128)
http://youtu.be/fScKLBa5vEs
Ginza - Old Wooden Izakaya Area 銀座木造居酒屋 (131128)
http://youtu.be/Xu1rCx6aYmY
I don't think this area is long for this world - in fact, when I saw
construction a block over, I at first thought it had already been eaten
by the Godzilla construction industry, causing me to think "I wish I
had recorded it in more detail while it was still there..." and then I
walked over a block and "Oh! - There it is! It *is* still
there!", so I immediately acted on the urge to record it before GCI
gets it.
1991 - Ikebukuro to Tabata (Yamanote Line) 池袋駅-田端駅 山手線 (911123)
http://youtu.be/JV6JmkojLkA
1991 - Tabata Walkabout 田端駅辺り散策散歩 (911123)
http://youtu.be/JGuVhMru2Uw
1991 - Tabata to Ikebukuro 田端駅-池袋駅 山手線 (911123)
http://youtu.be/KPQpcb5rjyk
1991 - Ikebukuro Brief Stroll 池袋ちょっとした散歩 (911123)
http://youtu.be/IQmw9EYr1sU
1991 - Ikebukuro to Shinjuku (Saikyo Line) 池袋駅-新宿駅 (911123)
http://youtu.be/fCQWvo1itlQ
1991 - 新宿花園神社の酉の市 Shinjuku Hanazonojinja Torinoichi Festival (911123)
http://youtu.be/_R10uT9RiFI
This is a fairly long video (about 20 minutes), that gets off to a slow
start as I slowly walk within a slow crowd towards a shrine during a
festival, but has some interesting scenes in the thick of it later on,
watching people buying things from stalls on the grounds of the shrine.
1991 - Shinjuku to Shibuya (Yamanote Line) 新宿駅-渋谷駅 山手線 (911123)
http://youtu.be/WPXoRz8X3rY
1991 - Shibuya Evening Walkabout 渋谷夕方散策散歩 (911123)
http://youtu.be/FqG2l7D2L1M
1991 A Friends Apartment 友達のマンション 911124
http://youtu.be/pbF1n6Dv8cE
This is a good example of one of the nicer apartments in Tokyo, which
my friend's company was paying for. (The apartments I've lived in
have been smaller and of a rather different design.) The overseas
corporate people tend to have it nice while they're here....
1991 Early Morning YukigayaOtsuka 朝早くの雪谷大塚町 日曜日 911124
http://youtu.be/wzCwquQ-RB8
1991 Gotanda to Meguro ll Yamanote Line 五反田駅 目黒駅 山手線 911124
http://youtu.be/KlJHfaryZcY
[File name note: I wanted a "-" between "Meguro" and "Yamanote" (Meguro
- Yamanote), but YouTube performed an auto-filename-mutate function on
the name and wouldn't allow me to fix the broken result, so - in
desperation - I put the "ll" there to take the place of the eradicated
"-".]
1991 Shibuya to Gotanda ll Yamanote Line 渋谷駅 五反田駅 山手線 911123
http://youtu.be/vCTkStXNUFE
1991 Yamanote to Ikegami Transfer at Gotanda 山手線 池上線乗り換え 五反田駅で 911123
http://youtu.be/6EoxeK5vKJc
1991 YukigayaOtsuka to Gotanda ll Ikegami Line 雪が谷大塚駅 五反田駅 東急池上線 911124
http://youtu.be/lpJkKUqjL0s
These two videos (above and below) show much of the Ikegami Line in
some detail - one at night, and the other in daylight.
1991 五反田駅ー雪が谷大塚駅 東急池上線 Gotanda to YukigayaOtsuka ll Ikegami Line 911123
http://youtu.be/ZVcXxyEStko
1991 五反田駅散策散歩 東急池上線とJR線 Gotanda Station Walkabout 911124
http://youtu.be/cmXVPk4I_Ww
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/12/05
"Virtual and Actual Gated
Communities"
Standing at a bus top in one of the "new town"s in a Tokyo suburb, I
thought how to explain the feeling I had, and the first word that came
to mind was... "creepy". That's probably a little bit of an
overstatement, but while walking down the streets lined with attractive
houses and carefully maintained yards/gardens, I had a very powerful
feeling of not belonging to the area. Only a few of the people I
came near overtly stared at me, but there was a feeling of my every
move being watched.
Not wanting to test that uneasy feeling, I heeded the urge to get out
of there and went/hurried to the bus stop. On foot, the houses
seemed to stretch uncomfortably into the distance, but after boarding
the nearly empty bus, it motored out of the area rather rapidly.
There's nothing like walking to give yourself an appreciation (via
contrast) for the convenience of power-driven wheeled transportation.
It wasn't a gated community exactly, but in its isolation (an island of
houses not connected with anything else and accessible only via car or
bus), I think you could put it in the same category as a gated
community. As I write that, one experience in particular comes to
mind. I sat down on a public bench for a few minutes near the
(only?) grocery store, and a man sat on a bench opposite from me and
stared very openly/rudely at me with a look that seemed to say "What
are you doing in my area?". That alone wouldn't be a big deal,
but the whole area felt very strange and had a radically different
atmosphere from what I'm used to in more central/normal areas of Tokyo.
As the bus motored back to civilization, I felt relieved and thought I
was free of gated communities for the day, but then I (for old time's
sake) went to an area (on the other side of town) that I used to spend
a lot of time in. Walking out of the rebuilt station, I looked
over and - lo! there was a rather tall residential tower (read
"vertical gated community") near the station. I walked over to
try and comprehend this new beast in an area of town that still felt
like an old friend. Walking around it, I stopped on the far side
and looked up - feeling a little dumbfounded at all that mass reaching
up into the sky.
The interior lighting seemed to be about evenly split between
yellow-tinted and stark white. Continuing around towards the
station, I thought I'd walk up near the entrance of the tower for a few
seconds. I walked up, looked at (the outside of) the entrance
doors, and then walked a few steps over towards a covered area
apparently for taxis, delivery vehicles, etc. Comprehending the
design, I was about to leave when I noticed a security man approaching
me. Seeing the expression on his face, I said "Oh, sorry! I
used to often come to this area... I was just taking a quick
look". He looked at me as though I were some kind of horrible
criminal and said, "So you don't have business with someone in the
building?", to which I replied, "No, I don't. Sorry to have
disturbed you", and I took my leave. [The conversation on both
sides was in Japanese, BTW.]
It was a much more unpleasant experience for me than it should have
been. From the radio waves emanating from the guard and the way
he was looking at me, you would think he had caught me inside the
building doing something terrible and wrong. I guess, in the
messed up era we live in, *looking* at the *outside* of the entrance
doors to a vertical gated community is a really terrible thing?
After that, I walked around the area a bit, both finding old familiar
things and feeling a little disoriented at all the things that had
vanished without a trace. As I walked around, with the tower
always in line of sight (it's quite tall), it suddenly seemed ugly,
unfriendly, and even menacing in a real, but hard to explain/define way.
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/11/20
"1990 Tamachi, Machida, Etc; 1991
Friday Night; 2013 Osaki, Ginza, Shinjuku, Etc."
Starting off with a look back via scenes from April 1991, and then
jumping to typical Tokyo scenes in the last week of October 2013, and
then looking back via scenes of October 1990, and wrapping up this
batch with a return to more views of 2013.
1991 - Out Friday Night - Back Saturday Morning (910426)
http://youtu.be/UXZmDqHN81I
Setting out one evening (in 1991) via bus and train to visit a friend
on the other side of town for a general rant session and several beers
while watching videos, etc. I missed the last buses and trains
for the day and took the first ones the next morning to get back
home. Not sure how this looks to people outside Japan, for for
Tokyo residents, this should look and sound very familiar.
The 5th Floor - October 17th (131017)
http://youtu.be/6qzmXYpCc2E
This photo isn't actually from the 5th floor, but it's from the same
building, so the atmosphere is right and it was taken on the same day
as the video.
Freight Train Passing Kita-Asaka Station Platform 貨物電車 北朝霞駅 (131023)
http://youtu.be/BliM1X0f6Iw
1932 Wooden Flooring in Ginza (131024)
http://youtu.be/YKIdQlIpB9g
The 2nd Floor (A) October 24th (131024)
http://youtu.be/wEO_l6glrcU
The 2nd Floor (B) October 24th (131024)
http://youtu.be/-q8EOBiVvaY
Learning Kanji Via a Beer Can 缶ビールから漢字を勉強する (131024)
http://youtu.be/vnNS68C_-3o
Just talking with a local about the kanji name of the beer of I was
drinking.
Yurakucho-SB (Quick Look) 有楽町SBの一見 (131024)
http://youtu.be/RN7yM1eZPQw
This view doesn't appear in the video of the Yurakucho-SB - but I
passed by here on the way to YSB, so it's a part of that evening's
atmosphere.
Tokyo Station - Reserved Seat Express Train Departing 東京駅特急 (131024)
http://youtu.be/_cBljdYm72g
Osaki Station Metal Staircase - New Train Etc 大崎駅 ホームの様子 (131025)
http://youtu.be/BrgR2v9t9Ks
E-233 Walkthrough E233の内部の様子 大崎駅 (131025)
http://youtu.be/s79SG3JTadQ
The scene in this photo isn't specifically in the Osaki videos above
and below, but is in Osaki and was taken during the same evening, so
it's relevant in that sense. Just don't expect this scene to
appear in the videos - it doesn't.
Osaki to Ebisu (Saikyo Line) 大崎駅-恵比寿駅 夜の埼京線 (131025)
http://youtu.be/G7MWmGXcP5M
Shinjuku Stationside Construction (131017)
http://youtu.be/GoydBXwDLIU
Shinbashi to Yurakucho (Keihin-Tohoku Line) 新橋駅-有楽町駅 京浜東北線 (131017)
http://youtu.be/PXLaL-nsKX4
Takadanobaba Tozai Line Platform - Waiting for Train (131022)
http://youtu.be/5Nmh_zChV7Y
Otemachi to Nihonbashi (Tozai Line) 大手町駅-日本橋駅 東西線 (131022)
http://youtu.be/JRzY5Vvqkn0
Nihonbashi to Kyobashi (Ginza Line) 日本橋駅-京橋駅 銀座線 (131022)
http://youtu.be/6J5I7faXfYo
Haba Fumihiko Exhibition 羽場文彦展 LIXILギャラリー (131022)
http://youtu.be/CxMtCB8cXkw
Hayama Mariko Exhibition (A) 羽山まり子展 マイホーム LIXILギャラリー (131022)
http://youtu.be/WdOM84zwlF0
This installation was interesting to me as the old material (wrapped in
some kind of transparent sheets) taken from a house that was remodeled
contained several things that were similar to things in an old
apartment that I used to live in.
Hayama Mariko Exhibition (B) 羽山まり子展 マイホーム LIXILギャラリー (131022)
http://youtu.be/uMF13tg3NnU
London Abbey District Double Decker Bus in Tokyo (131022)
http://youtu.be/xTYAxy00U5k
I think this is the all-time coolest design for a bus. I wish
they were still making them like this.
Tokyo to Manseibashi (Chuo Line) 東京駅-元万世橋駅 中央線 (131022)
http://youtu.be/fTgRXNcBCWc
To the platform (without stopping) of the former station that is.
Trains in the Night - Shinjuku Southern Terrace (131022)
http://youtu.be/EF85nWTvudc
新宿の夜電車の光と音 総武線橋の音 Night Trains - Lights and Sounds (131022)
http://youtu.be/DXBcu5Wrbv0
Shinjuku Lonely Boardwalk at Night (131022)
http://youtu.be/tgwRf0aHIHg
Walking by Shinjuku Stationside Construction Zone at Night (131022na)
http://youtu.be/2hPSJJVQl5M
Seibu-Shinjuku to Saginomiya 西武新宿駅-鷺ノ宮駅 西武新宿線 (131022)
http://youtu.be/rqrtlXPiJlE
Very unusually (unfortunately)
these days, a window was open and I was able to be right by it, so I
took some video out the open window. It would be a lot better if
the sound wasn't ruined by the wind, but my camera microphone doesn't
have a wind screen on it.
Tanashi to Kodaira (Seibu Line) 田無駅-小平駅 西武新宿線 (131022)
http://youtu.be/zy01WK77gQQ
Seibu-Shinjuku to Saginomiya 西武新宿駅-鷺ノ宮駅 西武新宿線 (131022)
http://youtu.be/rqrtlXPiJlE
Musashino Line Window View 武蔵野線窓の風景 (131024)
http://youtu.be/pL6kdQIjR0s
Nihonbashi to Kyobashi (Ginza Line) 日本橋駅-京橋駅 銀座線 (131024)
http://youtu.be/wznHdf7RU6o
Evening Yurakucho Plaza 夕方有楽町広場 (131024)
http://youtu.be/FA5nyc4ZtoM
Yurakucho to Tokyo (Yamanote Line) 有楽町駅-東京駅 山手線 (131024)
http://youtu.be/22OxmQK73l4
Shinjuku to Osaki - Shinjuku Construction 新宿駅-大崎駅 新宿工事現場 (131025)
http://youtu.be/LZhBVR_ANBo
Osaki Station - Train Departing Station 大崎駅 (131025)
http://youtu.be/wIemLCodZbw
Elevated Passageway by Osaki Station 大崎駅向く (131025)
http://youtu.be/xwdYdaEW4-8
Yurakucho Evening Stroll 夕方有楽町散策散歩 (131024g)
http://youtu.be/rdBXFTAmF74
1990 - Tamachi (To and From) 田町へ (電車など) 901015
http://youtu.be/xyajV7n-OFw
1990 - Shinjuku (To and From) 新宿へ (電車など) 901016n
http://youtu.be/woBtB4gRKxs
1990 - Machida (To and From) 町田へ (電車など) 901017
http://youtu.be/jS3eLBJmHg0
1990 - Yamanote Line - Tamachi Shinjuku Etc 田町 新宿など (901018n)
http://youtu.be/umuSQVd9hnQ
1990 - Friday Trip to Machida 金曜日の町田旅 (901019)
http://youtu.be/OyEnTJRNhas
1990 - Akasaka Ark Hills Walkabout Etc 東京彼方此方 (901020n)
http://youtu.be/lJB7_CVJki4
Tsutsumi Yoshihiko つつみよしひこ Y's ARTS-101 (131031)
http://youtu.be/z58Yle3lgkk
Sketch by Tsutsumi Yoshihiko つつみよしひこ Y's ARTS-101 (131031)
http://youtu.be/OQdDD6zW6h4
Watching Baseball Game at Yurakucho-SB 有楽町SB野球見 (131031)
http://youtu.be/QHtaJwGqvyU
有楽町SB野球見 Watching Baseball Game at Yurakucho-SB (131031)
http://youtu.be/wWLjHwlOsvg
Shinjuku to Osaki (Shonan-Shinjuku Line) 新宿駅-大崎駅 湘南新宿線 (131101)
http://youtu.be/lA8rj3ZbYKs
Shinjuku to Otsuka (Yamanote Line) 新宿駅-大塚駅 山手線左側 (131102)
http://youtu.be/6upeePnZQu4
大塚駅-新宿駅 山手線右後ろ向き Otsuka to Shinjuku (Yamanote Line) 131102
http://youtu.be/cENnt_TiqGA
Entering Shinjuku Station via South Entrance 新宿駅南口で入る (131102)
http://youtu.be/AekY5JOfn_E
Outbound Chuo Line Window View 下り中央線左側の風景 (131102)
http://youtu.be/BWZVCIIJLgA
Arriving at Shinjuku (Chuo Line) 新宿駅に到着 中央線 (131029)
http://youtu.be/3HvKpWxWBDo
Shinjuku Station Open Platforms - Waiting for Train 夜新宿駅 (131029)
http://youtu.be/-YJXwTH-u3w
Nishi-Tachikawa to Tachikawa 西立川駅-立川駅 中央青梅線 (131030)
http://youtu.be/ZTSTslspIj0
Shinjuku to Ebisu (Shonan-Shinjuku Line) 新宿駅-恵比寿駅 湘南新宿線 (131031)
http://youtu.be/1nbJe8s20lo
Kanda Station Under Construction 工事中の神田駅 (131031)
http://youtu.be/g-dw-dFg4BI
Kanda to Tokyo (Yamanote Line) 神田駅-東京駅 山手線 (131031)
http://youtu.be/tpSt7EWzsNI
Twilight Osaki Stationside 夕暮れ大崎駅辺り 黄昏線路 (131101)
http://youtu.be/YlPlgKC5Dkk
Shinjuku Yamanote Line Platform (Saturday Morning) 新宿駅山手線 (131102)
http://youtu.be/fTEt1ybAMn0
夕暮れ大崎駅辺りの散歩 Twilight Osaki Station Area Stroll (131101)
http://youtu.be/pYy-lK0yHy8
夜の大崎の反射と光と電車 Osaki Reflections and Light (131101)
http://youtu.be/7s9-FlbaZ00
夕暮れ山手線前向き 浜松町駅-神田駅 Twilight Yamanote FC View (131031)
http://youtu.be/oLv-9_5o6B8
Shiba-Koen Twilight-360 夕暮れ芝公園３６０黄昏 (131031)
http://youtu.be/2PqvmwFYYFk
大崎の夕暮れ踊り Twilight Dance in Osaki (131101g)
http://youtu.be/wY2uE-FqK7k
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/10/20
"1990 Urawa, Ueno, Etc; 1991
Korakuen, Shinjuku, Tokyo Monorail, Etc; 2013 Manseibashi Station,
Shinjuku, Hamamatsucho, Etc"
Out and about, here and there in Tokyo in 1990, 1991, and 2013. a
couple of things that stand out in this batch for me personally are:
- The former Manseibashi Station platform (the one that remains) has
reopened (as a shopping and restaurant complex) with much of a couple
of its old staircases (one dating back to 1912) intact (I think both
passageways are from 1912, but the stone *steps* of one were apparently
replaced with concrete some decades ago).
Watching construction on the platform while passing the site on the
Chuo Line, I had been worried about whether they were going to preserve
the original remaining elements of the old Manseibashi Station, so I
was quite happy to see they had, and spent a bit of time looking the
place over, having a coffee on the platform (now a cafe by day and pub
by night), and going back later that evening to have a beer (see
"Manseibashi" videos below).
- Riding my Hi8 time machine back to 1991 and riding on the Marunouchi
Line. I have posted views of the old type Marunouchi Line trains
coming into various stations before, but I don't think I've ever
recorded the inside as extensively as I did on Friday, April 19th,
1991. It was during the late morning and it wasn't crowded, so
the conditions were good, and the sounds of the old trains are possibly
more interesting even than the visual elements. (It's a strange
thing about sound - it's a huge part of atmosphere, but is easily
forgotten... until heard again, when so many memories come back upon
hearing long-forgotten sounds.)
1990 - Urawa Bus Rides Etc 浦和バスなど (900926)
http://youtu.be/d_LKBSMT7sY
1990 - Urawa to Ueno 浦和駅-上野駅 (900926)
http://youtu.be/PXrPlh26ts4
1990 - Ueno Station (Evening) 夕方の上野駅 (900926)
http://youtu.be/aJWkBn8lXeY
1990 - Ueno to Hibarigaoka 上野駅-ひばりヶ丘駅 (900926)
http://youtu.be/1O6iJVy9QOI
1990 - Ikebukuro to Tamachi (Morning) 朝の池袋駅-田町駅 (900927)
http://youtu.be/ilMnwyg42Q8
1990 - Shiba Walkabout 芝散策散歩 (900927)
http://youtu.be/8tevRuWC2fE
1990 - Tamachi to Shinjuku 田町駅-新宿駅 (900927)
http://youtu.be/HFSeLZp2B9Q
1990 - Night Out in Shinjuku Etc 夜の新宿など (900927)
http://youtu.be/q3hCnL9B4AM
The bubble era is much overrated by young people today, but there was
an optimism about the time that is definitely different from the
worrisome times we now live in.... A little of that optimistic
atmosphere can be seen and heard (somewhat) in this 1990 video.
Musashikogane to Mitaka 武蔵小金井駅-三鷹駅 中央線 (130926)
http://youtu.be/8t1F5KyGJak
Mitaka to Nakano (Chuo Line) 三鷹駅-中野駅 中央線 (130926)
http://youtu.be/PtGZMkpL7D0
Nakano to Shinjuku (Chuo Line) 中野駅-新宿駅 中央線 (130926)
http://youtu.be/9r7-GguoZnU
End of Platform Bound (Shinjuku) ホームの様子 (130926)
http://youtu.be/qbxB8Y_jUiE
A ten (or eleven, or fifteen) carriage long train is fairly long, and
depending on where the exit is where you want to get off and how much
time you have, it's sometimes important to get on the train towards one
end or the other.
アートギャラリー石 グループ展 Art Gallery Ishi Group Exhibition (130926)
http://youtu.be/tMvhN5JOJSc
Ginza Main Street Bound 銀座横道から中央通りまで (130926)
http://youtu.be/geHpCWO_LXc
Yurakucho Izakaya Street (Quick View) 有楽町居酒屋道の一見 (130926)
http://youtu.be/mSxVVgS66qM
EF 64 37 八王子駅 Hachioji Station (131002)
http://youtu.be/tBRTuAcMYwo
A quick look at a freight locomotive from the window of a passing Chuo
Line train at Hachioji Station.
Shinjuku to Ebisu - Shonan-Shinjuku Line 新宿駅-恵比寿駅 湘南新宿ライン (131003)
http://youtu.be/0sb6SfwUiwE
These trains tend to be quicker to Ebisu than the Yamanote Line
(depending on how long you have to wait to board the train in the first
place), but you have to be careful about what type of train it is, as
not all of them stop at Ebisu.
Hamamatsucho to Yurakucho (Yamanote Line) 浜松町駅-有楽町駅 山手線 (131003)
http://youtu.be/bi4hahr-LOE
Kawase Kazuyo (A) 河瀬和世 Exhibition at Art Space Rondo (131003)
http://youtu.be/Lqcoojmm_cE
Kawase Kazuyo (B) 河瀬和世 Exhibition at Art Space Rondo (131003)
http://youtu.be/obCfZBDyFHQ
Kikuchi Megumi キクチメグミ Tsutsumi Yoshihiko つつみよしひこ Y's ARTS-508 (131003)
http://youtu.be/eDZFeCikKC4
Yurakucho to Tokyo (Yamanote Line) 有楽町駅-東京駅 山手線 (131003)
http://youtu.be/6yDD25MfszA
Shinjuku Construction Site 新宿駅隣工事現場 (130926)
http://youtu.be/D5PEH5-9MwQ
At the moment, there's a pretty spectacular view of a large
construction project right next to Shinjuku Station. With the
unusual condition of the railway forming a barrier, there's a clear
view from the Saikyo Line platform of the project and it looks quite
amazing, considering this kind of thing is usually out of sight behind
high white construction walls.
Shinjuku to Ebisu (Yamanote Line) 新宿駅-恵比寿駅 山手線 (130926)
http://youtu.be/xfH7sdolm78
Hamamatsucho Street Corner 浜松町の角 (130926)
http://youtu.be/OpAIziaFhEQ
Evening Yurakucho Station 夕方有楽町駅ホーム (130926)
http://youtu.be/VvLaIXDq36I
Bridge Dance Yurakucho 橋踊り 有楽町 (130926)
http://youtu.be/yWqxvM-dO_0
Meaning looking around *under* a rail bridge, not *on* it. The
steel bridges make the coolest sounds when trains go by overhead....
ある有楽町の夜 Windy Evening in Yurakucho (130926)
http://youtu.be/hQKigsZ8MLA
Yurakucho Station - Ticket Gates to Platform 夜の有楽町駅 (130926)
http://youtu.be/EkaD96SLW98
有楽町駅-東京駅 中央線 Yurakucho to Tokyo (Yamanote Line) 130926
http://youtu.be/BowYVqz4fhY
東京駅-御茶ノ水駅 中央線 Tokyo to Ochanomizu (Chuo Line) 130926
http://youtu.be/7t0FSKjebWM
Departing Shinjuku - Chuo Line Window View 新宿駅から西へ (130926)
http://youtu.be/R2GrS5efa-w
Platform View of Chuo Line Departing Hino Station (130926)
http://youtu.be/RKmnG65we7k
Platform views at elevated Hino Station late at night on a warm
night. This kind of platform can be really cold on a cold and
windy night in the depths of winter, but is... (well... can be) an
interesting experience when the temperatures are warm.
夜の日野駅 Waiting for a Train at Hino Station (130926)
http://youtu.be/ifTlL8J2ioU
Kokubunji to Nakano (Chuo Line) 国分寺駅-中野駅 中央線 (131003)
http://youtu.be/htXhWnbii2I
Nakano to Shinjuku (Chuo Line) 中野駅-新宿駅 中央線 (131003)
http://youtu.be/_Fwl_vZHZDw
Evening Hamamatsucho 夕方浜松町 (131003)
http://youtu.be/T8sVsvU_oGo
Twilight Walk to Hamamatsucho Station 夕暮れの浜松町駅 (131003)
http://youtu.be/twP-71Ui-WM
Hamamatsucho to Yurakucho FCV 浜松町駅-有楽町駅 山手線 (130926g)
http://youtu.be/2XsjIIr40KA
1990 - Tokyo Here and There 東京の彼方此方 (900928)
http://youtu.be/tdQ4wkTlrs8
There's a lot to see in this 1:11:19 (one hour, eleven minute, and
nineteen second) video (taken Friday, September 28th, 1990). From
waiting for a Saikyo Line train in Ikebukuro, to a rare view of people
tightly packed together inside the train (including myself) at around
the 00:50 mark (rare, because I almost never *attempted* to take
pictures under those conditions inside the trains), continuing on to a
look at the south exit area at Shinjuku Station, and then a relaxing
ride on a reserved seat express train from Shinjuku to Machida.
After that, a trip to Harajuku (via the Chiyoda Line); a view of a
passing right-wing group in a parade of trucks and cars; many more
train scenes; walking scenes, etc.; culminating in a visit to the old
1935 haunted hotel in Ryogoku (near the Ryogoku Bridge), which has
since been demolished and replaced with a large condominium residence
building.
Most of the old hotel part of the video I've posted before, and I
posted a video combining a little less of what is shown at the end of
this long clip with material from the next tape. Just covering
the hotel (with a little leading into it) is this older clip (combining
material from two different tapes):
Old 1935 Ryogoku Hotel - Haunted in 1990 - (900928) - １９３５年の両国ホテル
http://youtu.be/2mtv5rjecwA
The following is (edited) text I previously posted in the "Description"
section of that video post of the old hotel:
I was walking around recording images & sounds of the area along
the river and soon after crossing over the Ryogoku Bridge
(Ryogoku-bashi) and arriving on the Ryogoku Station side of the river
not far from Ryogoku Station (just upriver), I noticed unusual-looking
doors in an old building....
Taking a closer look, I peered through the glass doors and saw what
looked like a hotel front desk, although there was no one in sight and
it was clearly not being used as a hotel as I stood there, in September
1990. I walked in (not something I would do now, in the
security-conscious 21st century, but at the time, it wasn't so
outrageous), and after looking around the halls a little, and seeing
what I thought were vacant apartment rooms on the top floor, I ran into
a tenant who told me that the hotel was built in 1935, and was a luxury
hotel at the time, with nice views of the river (now obscured by the
expressway).
He went on to explain that the building had been requisitioned by the
US military following the end of WW-II and used as a residence for US
military women. It used to have high-ceilinged hallways, but fake
ceilings had been put in (with florescent lights).
There were plans to tear the building down, but the last ten (or so)
tenants were resisting. Apparently the building had been used in
some old movies as well. He told me it was alright to take
pictures in the halls, but to be careful of the second floor, as a few
people lived there. That building is long gone now, but I'm still
hoping to find out more about it. I did see one photo taken from
across the river that shows it looking modern at the time (1930's).
1991 Korakuen Amusement Park 後楽園遊園地 (910223)
http://youtu.be/2menw30vK1w
Korakuen Amusement Park has since been extensively rebuilt, so this may
be of some historical interest as it shows how it used to look.
1991 Korakuen to Ikebukuro Etc 後楽園駅-池袋駅など (910223)
http://youtu.be/sNajbGY-XrI
1991 Hibarigaoka to Shinjuku Etc ひばりヶ丘駅-新宿など (910226)
http://youtu.be/sKhOJrNry6E
1991 Shinjuku Bookstore Visit Etc 新宿本屋など (910226)
http://youtu.be/Q6A7LdiTfdo
A fairly long look inside a large bookstore in Shinjuku - mainly on the
foreign books floor. Now that most foreigners nearly always buy
books on-line, it's more difficult to find English books in (physical)
bookstores than it used to be, although the large stores of Kinokuniya
and Maruzen still carry them. I don't buy nearly as many books as
I used to (too much reading on-line material...), but it's nice to look
at real books and pick one out in person now and then (as opposed to
clicking on pictures on the screen).
1991 Shinjuku Here and There 新宿の彼方此方 (910226)
http://youtu.be/3AWT5W6JhyQ
1991 Shinjuku to Shibuya Etc 新宿駅-渋谷駅など (910226)
http://youtu.be/PK05X91GHUk
1991 東急田園都市線 Riding the Denentoshi Line (910226)
http://youtu.be/8dYB3A9Lfd0
This video is important among my material from 1990-93 in that I didn't
use the Denentoshi Line very often, and so this footage recording an
outbound trip during the evening commute is fairly rare (among my own
material in any case).
1991 Out Late in Suburban Tokyo 終電車を間に合わない時 (910226)
http://youtu.be/7lH5uwSHwfA
1991 彼方此方と新宿駅新改札口物語 Manual Ticket Gates in Shinjuku (910228)
http://youtu.be/fnN50NQNTcg
This shows part of the transition process they went through in
converting from manual ticket gates to automatic (machine) ticket gates.
1991 Walking Around in Ikebukuro Etc 池袋の彼方此方とか (910301)
http://youtu.be/rCxyYn5vyiY
1991 Tokyo Monorail Heiwajima-AF Etc 東京モノレールーで平和島へ (910302)
http://youtu.be/3g3nqgQjUL8
While riding the Tokyo Monorail out to an antique fair, I stood in the
middle of the carriage and recorded video out both sides of the train -
looking to the right, then to the left, back to the right, etc.
Shinjuku to Ebisu (Shonan-Shinjuku Line) 新宿駅-恵比寿駅 湘南新宿ライン (131004)
http://youtu.be/js8KDddTZUg
Shinjuku to Otsuka (Yamanote Line) 新宿駅-大塚駅 山手線左側 (131005)
http://youtu.be/qEn7T9pvHhc
Asagaya to Shinjuku (Chuo Line-UD) 阿佐ヶ谷駅-新宿駅 中央線 上下 (131011)
http://youtu.be/oMVQmabgIxg
The "UD" in the title stands for "upside down". You might want to
skip this one. I was experimenting with a steep angle and the
result isn't particularly good. If you *do* watch it, keep in
mind that the world is round and "up" is just a state of mind....
Shinjuku to Kanda (Chuo Line) 新宿駅-神田駅 中央線 (131011)
http://youtu.be/9hng2iYGloM
御茶ノ水駅に総武線が到着 Sobu Line Train Arriving at Ochanomizu (131011)
http://youtu.be/-DNoUoYqqtk
Descending Stairway at Ochanomizu Station 御茶ノ水駅の階段 ホームに向かう (131011)
http://youtu.be/Xjj4vvoX7Rk
Twilight Train Arriving at Osaki Station (131004)
http://youtu.be/o9iy2SKjmXs
Descending Osaki Narrow Escalator 大崎駅エスカレーター (131004)
http://youtu.be/bSPQ40TAZlU
Tokyo Yaesu-Side Big Roof Look Around 東京駅八重洲口新しい屋根 (131004)
http://youtu.be/Aqw1IaHcxjI
The big roof on the Yaesu Side of Tokyo Station has been unveiled and
looks fairly interesting. Not being a big fan of form over
function though, I'm not overly enthusiastic about it.
Tokyo Yaesu-Side Construction Site Viewed from 2nd Level Under Big Roof
(131004)
http://youtu.be/QCADPbVNdRY
Otsuka Station Platform to Exit 大塚駅の様子と通る成田エクスプレス (131005)
http://youtu.be/OxP9B5OAQmM
Chuo Line at Speed 中央線のドア窓の風景 (131005)
http://youtu.be/xQ-aprU3cVw
Shinjuku Evening ST-Construction (Pedestrian Bridge Etc) 夕方の新宿南口
(131008g)
http://youtu.be/_6LgSt9Qn8o
The "ST" in this title is for "Southern-Terrace" as in "Shinjuku
Southern Terrace" (I should have called it SST...). The
construction is *next to* the terrace - not on the terrace
itself. (But the terrace is actually in Shibuya-ku, so maybe it's
best to just call it "Southern Terrace" after all. On the other
hand, the "southern" part of that refers to the fact that it's south of
Shinjuku Station, by the Shinjuku Station exit that is... in
Shibuya....)
Shinjuku Omoide-Yokocho Etc 新宿思い出横丁など 夜の散策散歩 (131008)
http://youtu.be/cNFP7rt2qlQ
Old Houses in Toranomon 虎ノ門の古い家 (131010)
http://youtu.be/P9GmGK_VcCQ
Walking about in Tokyo, you used to see old houses like these here and
there all over the city, but they are becoming extremely rare (in
central Tokyo in any case).
Hamamatsucho - Ticket Gates to Platform 浜松町駅 改札口-ホームまで (131010)
http://youtu.be/R-jxSY1LTqQ
Hamamatsucho to Yurakucho (Yamanote Line FCV) 浜松町駅-有楽町駅 山手線 (131010)
http://youtu.be/BYoIvX-uvK0
Yamanote Line Train Departing Yurakucho Station 有楽町駅 夕方山手線 (131010)
http://youtu.be/sCGsnxQJkz8
Inner-Outer Ginza Barrier Road (131010)
http://youtu.be/d9Gllg9PnKU
My term - I find this huge expanse of asphalt to be the barrier between
the walkable Ginza I know and love and the outer Ginza I don't know
very well and usually don't feel motivated to cross all this asphalt
and machine noise to get to.
Tokyo would be a much nicer city if personal cars were outlawed and the
focus shifted back to pedestrians and mass transit....
Yurakucho Overhead Trackside October Evening 有楽町ガードの隣 (131010)
http://youtu.be/tB_4Ff0a2o0
Hmm... not a good title! If the rails were on the ground, it
would have just been "Yurakucho Trackside" and I probably should have
just stuck with that, regardless of the rails being elevated. In
any case, this video (above) shows the area next to the elevated tracks
in Yurakucho.
Yurakucho to Tokyo (Yamanote Line) 有楽町駅-東京駅 山手線 (131010)
http://youtu.be/rGPKW2Hd8pU
Kanda Station Under Construction 工事中の神田駅 (131011)
http://youtu.be/JZ03INcLUCU
North Side of Kanda Station 神田駅北口から散策散歩を出発 (131011)
http://youtu.be/k8y-qykQbYM
Kanda-Sudacho 1-Chome Construction 神田須田町一丁目工事現場 (131011)
http://youtu.be/WdGlbq_Mgd0
Former Manseibashi Station Platform Stairs 元万世橋駅階段とホーム (131011)
http://youtu.be/0n_BIskfhjE
After watching the construction work on the old Manseibashi Station
platform over the past year or so, when I looked out the right side
window of an inbound Chuo Line train on this particular day and
suddenly noticed people sitting at tables on the old platform, I jumped
off the train at Kanda and hurried back to have a look (better to have
walked there from Akihabara though).
Later - sitting at the glassed in, but open air (no roof) area on the
platform while drinking an ice-coffee ("iced coffee" I guess, but I'm
used to the local term), it was fun to watch the Chuo Line trains going
by and to think of the history of the platform I was sitting on.
風と草 元万世橋駅ホームカフェ Wind in the Grass - Manseibashi Station Cafe (131011)
http://youtu.be/RMeQl27eEnk
Twilight in Osaki 大崎の夕暮れ (131011)
http://youtu.be/fidC0nod8yY
Osaki Reflections and Station Entrance 大崎夜の反射と駅入り口 (131011)
http://youtu.be/zJzhu2buvIM
Akihabara Station at 800PM 午後八時の秋葉原駅 (131011)
http://youtu.be/EzMSg0BxEA4
Manseibashi Station Area 元万世橋駅辺りの散策散歩 (131011)
http://youtu.be/31EGs1HJh6s
Making a mental note of the fact that the Manseibashi platform cafe
becomes an izakaya at night, I returned in the evening to see what it
was like to have a beer on the open part of the platform (where I had
earlier had a cup of coffee). Thinking back on it - I can't say
one is better than the other - they are both interesting and good
experiences; warm and sunny in the afternoon, and slightly mysterious
and moody at night with the many reflections of the lights of the
passing trains on the glass walls.
Incidentally, some signs at the entrance refer to the newly developed
part of the platform as the "2013 Platform", but it's the 1912 platform
with a 2013 section built onto/into the middle. The reason for
this confusion is probably the same cause of the railways calling one
side of a single platform - for example - "Platform One" and the other
side of the very same platform "Platform Two" (rather than more
correctly saying "Track One" and "Track Two"). With the import of
the word, unfortunately its meaning as a single item was lost and it
has some fuzzy meaning in Japanese ("area" maybe?), thus a new
cafe/izakaya built atop an authentically old 1912 platform gets named
"2013 Platform". It's unfortunate, as people will misunderstand
the fuzzy terminology and not realize the fascinating history of that
platform - mistaking the 1912 platform (with the new 2013 part built
onto the middle of the 1912 structure - and with the old 1912
passageways used for access) as having been built in its entirety (save
the passageways) in 2013....
I mean... I *do* understand the thinking behind the name "2013
Platform" and there is a logic to it, but only if you ignore the actual
meaning of the English word, so it would probably be best not to write
the name in English (using katakana instead). I wish they had
called it "Platform 1912" which would be - in my view - a vastly better
name. So - here's my recommendation: Just *imagine* that the name
is "Platform 1912" and enjoy the cool experience of having a beer on
the old platform in the new izakaya *called* "2013 Platform".
1912... two years before the opening of the 1914 Tokyo Station building.
元万世橋駅散策散歩 夜の様子 Manseibashi Station Site Night Walkabout (131011)
http://youtu.be/9aHy3S4bT3A
Chuo Line Trains Passing Manseibashi Station Cafe 中央線と万世橋駅カフェ (131011)
http://youtu.be/Gtl5bMLnuK0
Manseibashi Station Platform Night Stroll 万世橋駅ホーム散歩 (131011)
http://youtu.be/zs2kggRM3kI
Water Reflections by Manseibashi Bridge 夜の万世橋 (131011)
http://youtu.be/YXCh4APC1KY
夜の昌平橋 Nighttime Shoheibashi Bridge Area (131011)
http://youtu.be/rLuXTlIGbyc
Restaurants Near Former Shoheibashi Station 元昌平橋駅辺りのレストラン (131011)
http://youtu.be/Syo47hnjWZY
Windy Railside Near Ochanomizu Station 風のある夜 御茶ノ水駅へ向かう (131011)
http://youtu.be/nj6T8zXRH2Q
1991 - Marunouchi Line Etc 丸ノ内線 赤坂 彼方此方 (910419)
http://youtu.be/XN_oUx6u8jw
Friday, April 19th, 1991 - This is one of the things I mentioned at the
top of this post. Within this 39-minute video are some fairly
detailed looks at the inside of the old type of Marunouchi Line trains,
including the many distinctive noises they made. All of the
Marunouchi Line trains that appear in the video are of the old type,
save one, which shows that they were just starting to phase the
much-liked old type of Marunouchi Line trains out.
In addition to street views in Ikebukuro and Shinjuku, I walk around in
noontime Akasaka as well.
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/10/05
"Mysterious Mr.
Blue-Suit-Blue-Shoes"
2013/10/03 - (20:03) - I was going to call this "Mr. Blue-Suit,
Half-French, Half-English", but then I realized that no one would read
that and think I was referring to the man speaking half in French and
half in English - this is an inconvenient aspect to the English
language that it uses the same words for nationality and
language. In Japanese, you start with the country and add one
character to specify if you're referring to its people or its
language. So, for Japan-Japanese-Japanese, you get
日本-日本人-日本語 (Nippon/Nihon - Nihonjin/Nipponjin -
Nihongo/Nippongo). In any case, no sooner had I given up on my
first choice for a title than I listened more closely to the monologue
(half of a cell phone call) in the park this story is about and
realized I wasn't sure the non-English half of the conversation was
French - more on that below...
Now to the text I wrote in my notebook at the time:
(16:30) - Actually, as I listen, I think the main non-English component
probably isn't French, although - considering the way he mixes in
English with his other sounds, he may well be speaking a mix of
Something + English + French. (The imagination works away trying
to imagine who's on the other end of the conversation!). Whatever
it is he's speaking, Mr. Blue-Suit (+ Blue Shoes), who is sitting on a
park bench, mysteriously sitting sideways and directly facing me
(sitting two benches down), talks like this on his DG-Cell Phone:
"Dabba-munba, jungin.., eh? Why? There are two sides.
Dabba-munba, jungin.., eh? First of all, dabba-munba, jungin..,
money is perish, dabba-munba, jungin... You now come to
disappointment... dabba-munba, jungin.., eh? He's a human being,
dabba-munba, jungin, all human beings dabba-munba, jungin, etc. etc."
Naturally, the DMJ parts (dabba-munba, jungin) I can't accurately
transcribe, since they are unintelligible to me, but the English parts
are direct quotes I've transcribed as Mr. BSBS speaks.
Okay - the above part was written in Real Time, as Mr. BSBS spoke - now
let's jump back in time about twenty minutes.
There are three benches in a row in the park I'm sitting in. When
I came to the park, there was one foreigner sitting on the middle
bench. I sat down on the bench to his left. After looking
around and taking in the cooling, but still green park for five minutes
or so, a large man, possibly from Africa, wearing an immaculate blue
suit, with matching blue shoes, strode upon the scene with active cell
phone in hand, and proceeded to sit on the bench on the far right (from
my perspective of sitting on the leftmost of the three benches in a
row).
As he jabbered away on his cell phone, I thought "I'm glad Mr.
Blue-Suit, Blue-Shoes, Cell-Phone-Dude isn't sitting right next to
me... d**n cell phones!". After a few minutes, the man sitting on
the middle bench stood up and walked away. Soon thereafter, Mr.
BSBS swiveled on his bench 90 degrees to his left and directly faced
me. It seemed/felt a little weird, so I glanced that way, and he
was staring at me from inside that blue suit of his. I looked
away - back to the scene in front of me, but Mr. BSBS's eye-beams still
appeared to be on me, so I turned a little to the left so his eye-beams
wouldn't hit my face.
However, it soon occurred to me that the view to the left wasn't what I
wanted to see, so I looked forward again at the wonderful green
trees. But I could sense those BSBS eye beams again.... For
a few seconds, I thought I'd leave, but it suddenly occurred to me:
"Wait... that may be *why* he's staring at me! To make me
uncomfortable so I'll leave and convert the public park into Mr. BSBS's
private telephone space. なるほど！ But that's Very
Uncool! Now it's a matter of honor, as a free-park-going human
being, that I *not* leave...".
And so I tried to focus on and appreciate the beauty of the
not-much-longer (autumn very near) green leaves of the trees in the
park again... and then it suddenly occurred to me that Mr. BSBS's way
of talking was actually quite interesting, and begging to be
preserved....
So - I pulled out a notebook and pen, and began writing.
Suddenly, the situation transformed into one where Mr. BSBS was
providing me with pleasurable verbal entertainment. Not long
after coming to this realization, Mr. BSBS's eye-beams bounced off the
titanium cover of my "Recording History is Fun!" force-field, and he
stood up and walked off. In the corner of my vision, I noticed
that he stopped out on the main street sidewalk, so I looked
over. We looked at each other for a few seconds and I got the
feeling I was looking at a boy who had been chased off of a 20th
century swing set....
-----------------------------
2013/10/03 - (20:03) - Izakaya under the tracks. With interesting
shadows on the page, animated conversation from a group of three to my
right, a silent, contemplative man to my left... and a westerner
(country?) at the next table diagonally, and last, but certainly not
least, the cool industrial rumble of the trains passing by overhead, I
sit with my uronhai and edamame, waiting for a few sticks of
yakitori. ............
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/09/24
"Kawagoe, Shinjuku, Shinbashi,
Hamamatsucho, Ginza, Etc."
Past the heat of August, the temperatures in September are just about
perfect. It would be nice if this wonderful weather would stretch
out into December or something.
It's been kind of an active couple of weeks - with exhibitions in Ginza
(including my own), trips to Kawagoe, Shinjuku, Ueno, Shinbashi,
Hamamatsucho, etc. etc. I'll comment on some of the video links
below.
Narrow Passageway in Otsuka 大塚の細い道 (130907)
http://youtu.be/u1hpV5yPAdw
Passing Streetcar and Rails for Posts (130907)
http://youtu.be/O_3P3hOX2lM
This is something that people almost never seem to notice, but old
rails (railway rails - after wearing down and being replaced) used to
be used for various things, most commonly walkways, platform roof
supports, etc. at railway stations, but also as fenceposts, as shown in
this video.
Shinjuku to Tokyo (Chuo Line) 新宿駅-東京駅 中央線左側 (130907g)
http://youtu.be/DavtWSD2WKs
Yoyogi-Uehara to Shinjuku (Odakyu Line) 代々木上原駅-新宿駅 小田急線 (130907)
http://youtu.be/PI8N4WoQ7cs
新宿駅西口から中央線ホームまで Shinjuku Station - West Exit to Chuo Line (130907)
http://youtu.be/223MxlhgB7U
銀座奥野ビル501号室 Lyle H Saxon 2013 Exhibition-1991 - Rondo - Okuno Bldg
(130914)
http://youtu.be/xRW1_Nr3CvQ
I had a solo exhibition earlier in the month - focusing on still photos
taken from video material I took in (mainly) 1991, but also with videos
I took in that period playing into the back of where Room-501's round
window used to be. These videos (above and below) give a fairly
good view of how the exhibition looked.
Lyle Hiroshi Saxon 2013 Exhibition-1991 銀座奥野ビル501号室展示会 (130914)
http://youtu.be/O5T5MJflh7c
Kokubunji to Nishi-Kokubunji (Chuo Line) 国分寺駅-西国分寺駅 中央線 (130911)
http://youtu.be/hE62qtNCCOI
Ueno Art Gallery Outside Escalators (130910)
http://youtu.be/Kr_ND8EZusY
Summer Insect Songs in September (130910)
http://youtu.be/oue86AmztCo
During the hottest days of August, you are so preoccupied with thinking
about - or trying not to think about - the heat, that you don't have
much contemplative room to really take in details like the sound of
insects. Once the weather cools a little, but before the summer
insects disappear from the scene, then the sound of them singing away
produces a combination thought, the first part being "They sound really
nice in the woods...", but as you contemplate the sound, a melancholy
feeling comes over you as you envision the sound fading away, the wind
getting colder, the leaves falling, and another unpleasantly cold
winter beginning....
Kanda Station Under Construction (Chuo to Yamanote) 短い (130910)
http://youtu.be/uQJSoxPXDDk
Kanda to Ueno (Yamanote Line) 神田駅-上野駅 山手線 (130910)
http://youtu.be/waho5v6L11A
Ueno Sky and Clouds 九月の上野空と雲 (130910)
http://youtu.be/a42hZVF9Cg0
Ueno Park to Ueno Station to Akihabara 上野公園-上野駅-秋葉原駅 (130910na)
http://youtu.be/TzbYSVtyOQI
Akihabara to Yurakucho (Keihin-Tohoku Line) 秋葉原駅-有楽町駅 京浜東北線 (130910)
http://youtu.be/r7-gc2RIPUI
Twilight in Yurakucho (Quick View) 有楽町夕暮れ (130910)
http://youtu.be/t0gUV-rX1nQ
Twilight Sky and Crosswalk 夕暮れ空と横断歩道 (130910)
http://youtu.be/-Y9qXqtzFW4
Tokyo to Kanda (Chuo Line) 東京駅-神田駅 中央線 (130910)
http://youtu.be/Z5h3JaZvQQA
Kanda Station Under Construction 工事中の神田駅 (130912)
http://youtu.be/IHvCqcIQImI
Kurota Kobun 黒多弘文 Abe Yusuke 阿部祐輔 Room-306 306号室プロジェクト (130912)
http://youtu.be/ibWWHbd6EfE
Ando Nobuhiro Exhibition 安藤信弘展示会インスタレーション Y's Arts-508 (130912)
http://youtu.be/xSGQgU99EwE
Yokoyama Mitsunobu 横山光伸 Art Gallery Ishi アートギャラリー石 (130913)
http://youtu.be/kWdMCpuYHXE
Seibu Line Train Departing Takadanobaba Station 西武高田馬場駅 (130913)
http://youtu.be/Nniuej_Rhbg
New Plant Wall on Yaesu Side of Tokyo Station 東京駅八重洲口 (130914)
http://youtu.be/I3rfP1johjA
Tokyo Station Yaesu Construction Zone 東京駅八重洲口 (130914)
http://youtu.be/GH-X0YlWwgk
Shinjuku to Ikebukuro (Yamanote Line) 新宿駅-池袋駅 山手線 (130913)
http://youtu.be/Qpj1KwIQcaI
Entering Subway 地下鉄に入る (130913)
http://youtu.be/-i1wNyLhO44
Walking by Departing Train in Takadanobaba 高田馬場駅の東西線を出発 (130913)
http://youtu.be/IkqR2nWvdQc
高田馬場駅の忙しい夜 Busy Evening at Takadanobaba Station (130913)
http://youtu.be/1YqYx7_IWbM
Kanda to Yurakucho Train Watching in Yurakucho 神田駅-有楽町駅 (130912)
http://youtu.be/AawKd7CIHYo
Kiki in Hamamatsucho 浜松町ライブのKiki (130919)
http://youtu.be/hCliupOBS9U
Kiki (from Kagoshima) put on another good performance in
Hamamatsucho. Incidentally, I did a write-up of them that you can
see here:
"Kiki Live in Hamamatsucho - Summer 2013"
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.jp/2013/09/kiki-live-in-hamamatsucho-summer-2013.html
浜松町ライブKiki (A) Live in Hamamatsucho (Kiki - Shiraso) 130919
http://youtu.be/b0PIKketf4c
浜松町ライブKiki 金木犀 Live in Hamamatsucho (Kiki - Kimokusei) [B] 130919
http://youtu.be/FCKVykty3Sw
浜松町ライブKiki カテゴライズ Live in Hamamatsucho (Kiki - Categorize) [C] 130919
http://youtu.be/Fk6h2ykgsS4
Hamamatsucho Stage と Izakaya と Night Scene 浜松町駅前居酒屋 (130919)
http://youtu.be/NMRmQ6R_kp4
Masses of Birds in Kawagoe (in the trees) 川越の鳥鳥鳥 (130918)
http://youtu.be/fUv6vJVDR74
A very boring video - I don't recommend this one, unless you want to
hear what they sounded like in the trees. As I was nearing the
area, there were great masses of them flying together in the sky, but
by the time I got there, they had mostly settled down (noisily) to
perches in the trees. I was hoping they would perform another
mass flyover, so I kept the camera rolling for a couple of
minutes. If you're into birds, you might like this one.
Yamanote Line Departing Yurakucho 夜の有楽町駅から山手線が出発 (130919)
http://youtu.be/qarte11j8PM
Late Night Yurakucho Station 有楽町駅-東京駅 夜の京浜東北線 (130919)
http://youtu.be/dc1JFMXY21I
Tokyo to Kanda (Chuo Line) 東京駅-神田駅 中央線 (130919)
http://youtu.be/q5vVTnO1Slc
Thursday Night Yurakucho-SB 木曜日の夜のYSB (130919)
http://youtu.be/GdAhps8u_6k
Yurakucho Izakaya (September) 九月の有楽町居酒屋 (130919)
http://youtu.be/UkHPIPRZkp0
Kanda to Yurakucho (Yamanote Line) 神田駅-有楽町駅 山手線 (130917)
http://youtu.be/r916Ok3TKYE
Yamanote Line Train Departing Yurakucho Station 有楽町駅 (130917)
http://youtu.be/aU-KUijKTe8
本川越駅に到着 西武線 Arriving at Hon-Kawagoe Station (Seibu Line) 130918
http://youtu.be/jJNZsQ0GjhI
Looking out the front cab of a Seibu-Shinjuku Line train as it comes
into Hon-Kawagoe Station.
Insect Sounds in the Woods (130918)
http://youtu.be/mnEtDrT4hmk
Kawagoe Rooftop Amusement Park Monorail (130918)
http://youtu.be/91fzLt52F60
I wrote a short blog entry while on the rooftop, which I posted here:
"Kawagoe Rooftop Amusement Park - 2013"
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/2013/09/kawagoe-rooftop-amusement-park-2013.html
Looking Around at Rooftop Amusement Park in Kawagoe (130918)
http://youtu.be/t0pyv2KLKrU
Temple in Kawagoe 川越にあるお寺 (130918)
http://youtu.be/v0SbwKnmvj4
Kurazukuri Building Interior in Kawagoe 川越蔵造り (130918)
http://youtu.be/NOSHzAAH46Q
Kawagoe September Evening Green 川越九月緑 (130918)
http://youtu.be/x9fAGGRdrj0
Kawagoe Kenryuji Temple September Evening 川越見立寺 九月の夕方 (130918)
http://youtu.be/XkbH2HT7OdA
Kawagoe Evening Kashiya-Yokocho 川越夕方の菓子屋横丁 (130918)
http://youtu.be/a9Xmr_Uqicw
川越菓子屋横丁の道焼き物 Street Tiles - Kawagoe Kashiya-Yokocho (130918)
http://youtu.be/SHHfEHV7TpM
川越の昭和時代の店 Kawagoe Old Shops on way to Hon-Kawagoe Station (130918)
http://youtu.be/Cr9_qgspA_U
Tokyo to Hamamatsucho (Keihin-Tohoku Kaisoku) 東京駅-浜松町駅 京浜東北快速 (130919)
http://youtu.be/1l61rQ_bwUQ
Hamamatsucho Train Watching 浜松町駅で電車を見る (130919)
http://youtu.be/t6cnIHw5j_E
Arriving at Shinbashi Station (Yamanote Line FCV) 新橋駅に到着 (130919)
http://youtu.be/YH7lVJL0g4E
Another front cab view - this time watching as the train arrives at
Shinbashi Station.
Shiodome Escalator 潮留エスカレーター (130919)
http://youtu.be/kGq8wSqPEfQ
Shiodome Buildings and Passageways 潮留ビルと通路 (130919)
http://youtu.be/vRjDJxqofcE
Yurikamome Line Train Passing Between Shiodome Buildings ゆりかもめ線 (130919)
http://youtu.be/u5rbOXIAUGA
Shinbashi SL-Plaza Quick 360 新橋駅前SL広場360 (130919)
http://youtu.be/nmSHl106iJI
Shinbashi Station Platform - Waiting for a Train 新橋駅ホームの様子 (130919)
http://youtu.be/HMxy0nuN2hI
Shinbashi to Hamamatsucho (Yamanote Line) 新橋駅-浜松町駅 (130919)
http://youtu.be/-gfMDCoQsFI
Nighttime Hamamatsucho (Near Station) 夜の浜松町駅辺り (130919g)
http://youtu.be/8FGUCCzTyww
Hamamatsucho to Yurakucho (Yamanote Line) 浜松町駅-有楽町駅 山手線 (130919)
http://youtu.be/g66T5yM7bGI
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/09/22
"Kawagoe Rooftop Amusement Park -
2013"
September 18th, 2013 - Kawagoe department store rooftop kids' amusement
area. It used to be that there were rooftop kids' amusement areas
with various amusement park style rides (something similar in concept
to miniature golf) on department store roofs all over Japan, but with
declining birth rates and home entertainment they have been
disappearing one by one over the years.
That history out of the way, I'm now sitting on a bench at one of the
few remaining old style department store rooftop amusement parks.
Being a weekday afternoon, you wouldn't expect it to be really busy,
but still - there's a kind of melancholy sadness in an amusement park
(however small) with very few people.
While sitting here I've observed several young couples, each with one
two or three-year-old child riding the three-minute Ferris wheel, but
there has been a gap between all of them, with the ride alternating
between being fully empty and having just one threesome on board (young
parents with one small child). Without wishing for a population
explosion (there are too many people on the planet already), you look
around and hope that this old type department store with its rooftop
amusement park can continue. Something like... nostalgic 1960's
culture...?
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/09/18
"Goldfish Bowl Syndrome"
September 10th, 2013 - Ueno Park
I just visited a... new(?) or extensively remodeled public art gallery
in Ueno today (I think extensively remodeled). In fact I just
walked out of the building about ten minutes ago. To explain the
experience briefly:
1) Confusion - there are many display areas in the museum, along with
many stairs, elevators, etc., and I had a little (not much, but a
little) difficulty finding the right floor, and then the right entrance
area.
2) Good first impression - high ceilings, large display space, very
nice paintings. Nice-looking rest area rooms with no ventilation,
but a nice view of the green outdoors - one enclosed rest area for each
display space (several of which were used for the single group
exhibition I was there to view/experience).
3) Fatigue - I'm tempted to say "extreme fatigue", but I suppose that
would be a slight exaggeration. Why fatigue? Primarily due
to bad air. Bad quality air with chemical smells and an
uncomfortably warm/stuffy temperature. Towards the end I had an
almost overpowering urge to open a window (none of the windows can be
opened however), and a growing feeling bordering on panic that I
*needed* to get out of that horrible air - or more accurately - that I
very badly needed fresh air outside.
4) Another element of fatigue - but regarding the horrible lighting
only. The lighting is - I suspect - the new variety of
stark-white intense LED lighting that seems very nice for about five
minutes, and then the longer you're exposed to it, the more difficult
it is to keep your increasingly painful eyes open. "That's
it? Bad air and bad lighting?" Yeah... but if you can
barely breathe and barely keep your eyes open, then what's left?
Sound? It wasn't a concert, and anyway, when you can barely
breathe and your eyes are in pain, nothing is enjoyable.
Conclusion: If I need to enter that space again for an exhibition, next
time I'll make a note of the time I enter the building and get myself
back out of there within about ten minutes. It was that bad.
"August Heat and Tourists
Everywhere"
August 21st, 2013 (水) Osaki
Out and about in central Tokyo in August. Tourists everywhere,
train stations very busy, and everything is imbued with the feeling of
people traveling about outside their usual routines. I got back
onto the train system just in time to miss a thundershower, went across
town, and now I'm sitting in an air-conditioned space with office
workers - away from the tourist routes. The high humidity and
heat of the past couple of weeks has me feeling deeply grateful for air
conditioning. I get out into the heat, and immediately I start
thinking, "Okay... this is uncomfortably hot. Now what air
conditioned space can I get into to escape the heat..." I don't
think I've ever liked air-conditioning quite so much in my whole life.
Didn't get enough sleep last night... now I'm having trouble staying
awake.
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/09/07
"Shinjuku, Takasaki Line, Ueno
Park, Hamamatsucho, Ginza, etc."
It was so hot in Tokyo throughout August that I wasn't particularly
motivated to go out and walk around in the heat, but there's a little
of that - particularly walking through Ueno Park one very hot
day. I think other people also weren't exactly eager to be
outside either - the kids' amusement park within Ueno Park was nearly
deserted, and I seemed to see more foreign tourists out and about than
locals.
Shinjuku East-West Tunnel and Omoide-yokocho 新宿思い出横丁など (130820)
http://youtu.be/B1VmJ-y8Dy8
Shinjuku - Waiting for Midnight Train 新宿駅夜遅くホームの様子 (130820)
http://youtu.be/sVgCqOv-cKg
Omiya Station - Late Morning Platform 大宮駅昼近くホームの様子 (130821)
http://youtu.be/1sk2XJW-5A4
Omiya to Akabane (Takasaki Line) 大宮駅-赤羽駅 高崎線 左側 (130821)
http://youtu.be/bbCtC7YUn1s
Akabane to Ueno (Takasaki Line) 赤羽駅-上野駅 高崎線 左側 (130821)
http://youtu.be/-zK8F0i-zuY
Walking into Ueno Park - Hot August Day 上野公園に入る_暑い八月の日 (130821)
http://youtu.be/owJU7pjCnXw
Ueno Park Kids Amusement Park 上野公園子供遊園地 暑い八月の日 (130821)
http://youtu.be/5bOEc7ntXBs
Ueno Park - Cicada Concert-360 上野公園の蝉コンサート３６０度 (130821)
http://youtu.be/VRQ6sTGr35w
Ueno - Side Street to Ameyokocho 上野の横道からアメ横丁まで (130821)
http://youtu.be/4MJIokMxn9Q
Ueno Ameyokocho Passing Train Etc 上野アメ横丁 通る電車など (130821)
http://youtu.be/K4VNWdDhqKQ
Ueno Station - Big Skylight Area 上野駅 強大スカイライトの広場 (130821)
http://youtu.be/io0_JRyWRmg
Shinkansen Passing Yurakucho Station 新幹線が有楽町駅を通る (130821)
http://youtu.be/M-Vs-uNHgIE
Overhead Shinkansen - Under-Bridge Sounds Yurakucho 有楽町駅の新幹線音 (130821)
http://youtu.be/iQfQwmWAhOI
Ginza Sony Outside Aquarium (A) 銀座Sony八月外のアクアリウム (130821)
http://youtu.be/Y6l-NE7mruo
They had an outdoor aquarium in front of the Sony Building last year as
well, so maybe this is a yearly event? I have memories of them
putting something unusual on the corner every summer, but my impression
was that it was something different every year - until last year and
this year anyway.
Ginza Sony Outside Aquarium (B) 銀座Sonyアクアリウム (130821)
http://youtu.be/LwPmvHuCra8
Tokyo Station New Yaesu Side 東京駅新八重洲口の様子 (130821)
http://youtu.be/L0WfDQaeq9I
Tokyo to Shinagawa (Tokaido Line) 東京駅-品川駅 東海道線 (130821)
http://youtu.be/dxl5ZP1aSM4
Shinagawa Station - Afternoon Tokaido Line Platform 品川駅 (130821)
http://youtu.be/KJoW6ggBSJo
Shinagawa to Osaki (Yamanote Line) 品川駅-大崎駅 山手線 (130821)
http://youtu.be/7AnlHsPY78o
Narita Express Train Passing Osaki 大崎駅 雨の日 (130821)
http://youtu.be/hozpA0vUbCE
Seibu-Shinjuku Station - Train Arriving 西武新宿駅で電車の到着 (130822)
http://youtu.be/kHL-O-8Mb9Q
Late Night Higashi-Murayama Station 夜遅く東村山駅の様子 蝉など (130822)
http://youtu.be/NVL4fxnwbFo
Nighttime Osaki 大崎駅近くの道路と電車 (130821)
http://youtu.be/x7Z__XiPC10
Nighttime Marunouchi 夜の丸の内と東京駅など (130821g)
http://youtu.be/tqt_CATarTc
Nishi-Shinjuku - Walking Down the Street 西新宿大通散歩 (130822)
http://youtu.be/bsPe17DCCcw
New Building in Nishi-Shinjuku 西新宿の新しいビルを入る (130822)
http://youtu.be/nw-IV601DFo
Nighttime Shinjuku 4-Chome 新宿四丁目の夜散歩 工事現場など (130822)
http://youtu.be/FgG8JLVfX4s
Shinjuku Southern Terrace Pedestrian Bridge Night View (130822)
http://youtu.be/rZYPhAsAVZk
Tokyo Station Yaesu Construction Zone 夜の東京駅八重洲口 (130827)
http://youtu.be/ZH8bkcHzqYM
Tokyo to Yotsuya (Chuo Line) 東京駅-四ッ谷駅 夜の中央線 (130827)
http://youtu.be/pGSf1RWmjBY
Shinjuku Chuo Line Platform 新宿駅中央線と南口 (130827)
http://youtu.be/wbRylj-I0NU
Takao to Takaosanguchi (Keio Line) 高尾駅-高尾山口駅 京王線 (130826)
http://youtu.be/376NRAlbG3g
Takao Cable Car Lower Station Area (130826)
http://youtu.be/OUc_i45Q-S4
Takao - Singing Insects at Cable Car Lower Station Area (130826)
http://youtu.be/oeQwjxD3O48
Takaosanguchi to Takao (Keio Line) 高尾山口駅-高尾駅 京王線 (130826)
http://youtu.be/bafs0WZ17fg
Keio Takao Station Nighttime Platform 夜の京王線高尾駅のホーム (130826)
http://youtu.be/CHAo42R0e2M
A Station Somewhere on the Chuo Line (130826)
http://youtu.be/gLU6F-gqYHo
Nakano Station Platform 夜の中野駅ホームの様子 (130826)
http://youtu.be/hgi6Ob66d-M
Old Night Hallway in Ginza (130827)
http://youtu.be/keiy7RvfRQg
Kyobashi Side Streets at Night 夏夜の京橋横道 (130827)
http://youtu.be/XAd-JU9orKs
Yokoyama Mitsunobu 横山光伸 Art Gallery Ishi アートギャラリー石 (130905)
http://youtu.be/SlKa-p4aaMc
Yurakucho to Tokyo (Keihin-Tohoku Line) 有楽町駅-東京駅 京浜東北線 (130905)
http://youtu.be/ziY-_6hipMY
Shinjuku Station Inbound and Outbound Chuo Line Platforms 新宿駅 (130903)
http://youtu.be/m3tnceZedOw
Waiting for Late Night Train (Shinjuku) 新宿駅夜ホームの様子 (130903)
http://youtu.be/hlL0GkLgl78
Shinjuku Construction Site 新宿工事現場 (130905)
http://youtu.be/mqlESK7mstU
Shinjuku to Ebisu (Shonan-Shinjuku Line) 新宿駅-恵比寿駅 湘南新宿ライン (130905)
http://youtu.be/7MnYsmC9dIs
Shiba-Koen Park - Sparrows and Insect Noises 九月の芝公園 (130905)
http://youtu.be/zD7QlaFCq-k
Tokyo September Green 東京九月の緑 (130905)
http://youtu.be/a0py98ZQT8o
Walking up to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bid Promotional Event (130905)
http://youtu.be/0A_nZZ4jH1g
Media People at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bid Promotional Event (130905)
http://youtu.be/2_DsKQBikVM
Lookaround at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Bid Promotional Event (130905)
http://youtu.be/ecTyVBoaUns
Entering Hamamatsucho Station 浜松町駅の北口から入る (130905)
http://youtu.be/gLMnuiWs37A
Yurakucho Station Evening Yamanote Line 夕方有楽町駅ホーム (130905)
http://youtu.be/BwfiF9qltu0
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/09/03
"Visiting 'The Dug' in Shinjuku"
August 20th, 2013 (火曜日) Shinjuku (18:18)
Shinjuku Dug - B1 - the only space left, but a nostalgic and greatly
appreciated atmosphere it is! (The whole three-story building
used to be completely filled with "The Dug".) Brick walls (real
brick in front of concrete?, old mechanical clock to my left
melodically, steadily ticking away. On the glass of the clock, in
gold letters, it says "Little Joker", then (in smaller letters) "Big
Golden" (in all capital letters), and on the bottom of the glass, in
larger font again, it says "Long Cut." (including the period).
There is an old wooden counter beneath the paper I'm writing on, mellow
jazz music playing through old speakers, dim, atmospheric lighting, a
candle inside what looks like old glass in an interesting shape that
casts interesting patterns of light and shadow across the old wood
counter and onto the sheet of paper I'm writing on. The clock is
four minutes fast - a man in his twenties(?) at a nearby table reads a
book in the dim light.
Until a few minutes before, another man, seemingly in his early
twenties, was reading a book - smoking a cigarette... and... maybe my
mis-perception, but it seemed as though he was in a perfect space -
savoring the historic "the Dug" atmosphere, and was slightly perturbed
that a stranger from distant lands across the seas sat two seats down
at the counter that had been all his. I glanced over after
sitting down and seemed to perceive ripples in the pond.... He
left soon thereafter, and now - at the counter - there is just me and a
woman (down around the bend) in her twenties talking up a storm (slight
exaggeration - but in the mellow atmosphere with cool jazz music and
ticking clock, it seems like a storm).
The ear her speech is aimed at is the bartender in his... twenties
(again!). Another bartender appears to be in his thirties and
there is a mysterious customer sitting off in a corner apparently in
his... sixties?
Running shy on time - time to stop writing and just savor the
atmosphere a bit before moving on.
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
2013/08/24
"Odds and Ends - June, July, and
August"
This is a collection of stuff I wrote by hand while out and about in
Tokyo (from inside coffee shops, inside trains, etc.) It
basically covers notes written in summer 2013 - with material from
June, July, and August.
June 18th, 2013 - (Tozai Line / 東西線) That old writing issue - the
longer you don't write, the harder it is to start - and the more you
write, the easier the words flow. Looking back at things I've
written in years past, I wrote the most often when I carried a laptop
around all the time. Some of that was handwritten, and then typed
up (pounded into electrons, as I used to say) later.
In fact, this is being handwritten right now. It *was* going
well, but then a vampire space hog biped sat down next to me...
Anyway, my station approaches - better to stand than to have my energy
stolen by a vampire.
15:35 - Ginza side street (銀座) - It's harder to write while standing
up, but so much nicer to be standing on a Ginza side street on a warm,
but not overly hot day. "A picture is worth a thousand words"
goes the old saying, and "a video clip with sounds is worth 100,000
(10,000?, 1,000,000?) words" Lyle adds (is that original, or just a
common expression now?), but some things need words to be expressed -
which I guess it's all a strong suggestion that I narrate my
videos? Naw... the spoken word interferes with with the
pictures. It needs to be text on paper and/or on the
screen. The trouble with writing by hand of course is that it
takes time. [130824: *Some* narration is good in video, so I aim
to do a little more of that.]
Off to see an art exhibition.
2013/06/20 (Chuo Line / 中央線)
"Members Only"
I was recently asked (by an e-friend) what I thought the reason for
local resistance to outsiders knowing the local culture was about after
they had read something I posted some years ago, specifically this:
I looked over at him
expecting him to be joking, but he didn't smile, and he didn't look at
me - so it came across as a bona fide warning more than a joke. I
have often remembered those words, particularly tonight.... The
Russian IT guy gave written notice, and the president tore it up -
which has a special meaning in Japan that I don't entirely understand
myself, but in any case it seems that there's this ritual where someone
will submit an intent to quit in writing, and if it's accepted, then
that's it - they're out, but if it's torn up (as I've often seen in
Japanese movies), then the person keeps working...
[00/12/20 note: I've
been asking around about this, and everyone I've mentioned it to says
that letters of intent to quit are not generally torn up - given back,
yes, but not usually torn up... maybe Prez has been watching too many
television dramas?]
[10/08/15 note:
There's something else too. In 1984, I mentioned to a woman here
about the model "Skyline" car, and she told me "No, there's no such car
as that." Later, I was with her in her car going somewhere, and -
lo and behold - a Skyline was right in front of us, with "Skyline"
written on the back. I pointed it out to her and she seemed very
displeased.
Around 1996, I began
to notice that young people were dropping the final "i" with words like
"samui", "atsui", etc., so they became "samu", "atsu", etc. I
mentioned it to a local friend, and again he said "No, no such
thing. You're mistaken." Later, I was with him when some
friends of his joined us outside, and one of them said it was "samu"
instead of "samui". I basically said "Behold! - It is as I told
you!" Again that displeased look and he claimed it was because
they were from Osaka.
Etc. etc. etc. - I
could go on and on with similar examples. The point is - there
seems to be a basic rule that outsiders are not qualified to notice
something [outside the tourist routine] about the local culture, and
this thing of the resignation letter may well have been just such a
situation. I wasn't supposed to know about that, so it was
denied? It doesn't sound plausible, but if you'll go back with me
in a time machine, I'll show you and you can see for yourself.]
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/LL_R/RArchive/LL285a.html#abandon
It baffled/irritated me initially, but I've gotten to the point where
if someone - whenever, wherever - doesn't seem to accept that I'm from
Planet Earth, I (naturally) still don't like it, but instead of
feeling/thinking "What is *wrong* with this person?!" - I think
something along the lines of "Oh... this is *that* type of person
then..." and do one of a number of things - from heading immediately
for the exit, to introducing myself as a fellow Earthling (in a joking
way), etc.
Incidentally, I've found racists are sometimes actually more reasonable
human beings than hard-core fanatical political people. Hard-core
political people fiercely believe whatever their preferred political
organization has told them and just become ever more enraged the more
you show them solid evidence that they are mistaken about something.
In stark contrast, many of the racists I've met I've been able to
reason with and often they will accept logic, reason, evidence, etc.,
and change their thinking somewhat when you show them conclusively that
they're being wrong-headed about something.
Anyway, when you are willfully shut out, there's only so much you can
do. But back to the question, "Why?". Well... "Members
Only" says it all I suppose. People like their groups and want to
protect them.
2013/07/30 (Seibu Line / 西武線)
"Leaving the Camera Off"
Decided to (basically, but not completely) leave the camera off
today. The ironic thing about taking pictures is that while it
can bring so many memories back later, at the time you take the
pictures, the machine interferes with your perception of the scene
you're in. I often think it would be great to have a time travel
machine, but cameras (especially video cameras) are - in a way - time
machines, and it's then a perceived (and real?) connection to the
future that ripples the waters of current time and interferes with the
here and now.
And so a photographer must be, pretty much by definition, a perpetual
outsider - looking back on the present from a future imagined.
......
While writing this (by hand - ink on paper), I ponder text, which is
another kind of recording, but the feeling I get while writing this is
that writing (by hand at least, and with machines also?) feels very
much a part of the present - in fact, it seems to enhance the present
somehow. An age-old heightening of the senses in order to
mentally record things?
.... A man (from across the seas) wearing a bottle or two of some
nasty-smelling artificial scent just sat next to me... concentration
broken - more later. Man I hate foul-smelling artificial
smells! I think they should be illegal!
(Shinjuku / 新宿) - It was amazing how one biped with a couple of liters
of noxious scent ruined the rest of my train ride! Speaking of
scents ("noxious fumes" would be a more accurate term), recently
there's been a barrage (in Japan) of advertising saying that older
(50s-up) men smell bad, and - noxious fume bottles to the rescue - "If
you just douse yourself in noxious fumes from our company, you won't
stink any more!"
A particularly obnoxious form of this kind of advertising shows
pictures of attractive middle-aged women (one at a time - with
different pictures for different versions of the same ad) supposedly
saying "My husband smells nice!".
Prior to that, they had pictures of attractive young women supposedly
commenting on the smell of their fathers. (Nothing is said about
the female half of the population by the way. Apparently it's a
male curse to stink past 50.) I've been here for about 30 years
and I don't recall there being a particular problem with older men
smelling bad... until now that is, when gullible individuals who have
bought into the advertising hype are walking around fouling the air
with noxious artificial fumes from the companies manufacturing that
horrible stuff.
Gee, I don't suppose the media people who have talked about smelly
upper-middle-aged men have accepted advertising money from the noxious
fume manufacturers.... You can kind of see the gears turning -
Japanese men traditionally don't douse themselves in noxious smells, so
they haven't been buying that horrible stuff. How to get them to
start shelling out for it....
August 4th, 2013 - Decided to write something, but after looking over
my schedule, etc., I realize I don't remember what I thought I'd write
about.
2013/08/07 - (Osaki / 大崎)
"Writing by Hand in Public"
I used to wish my handwriting was more legible, but it's begun to be
handy that it's difficult to decipher - I can pull out a piece of paper
in a public space and write in front of people, and they have a lot of
difficulty making out what the words are. Not that it really
matters if they do read what I'm writing, but still.... The other
interesting thing is regarding how ever fewer people are even taught to
read/write cursive handwriting. So suddenly it feels like I have
a special skill. Almost like being able to write in code or
something.
I'm in a public space as I write this (by hand) and soon after I sat
down, the man sitting next to me (at a long counter in one of the best
public spaces in Tokyo that I know of), pulled his laptop closer to
himself and re-angled the screen so I wouldn't be able to see it.
I then pulled out a piece of paper and began brazenly writing right in
front of him, feeling safe that the tiny cursive script I'm writing
would basically be Greek to him. Whatever. The one bad
thing about this public counter is that it never seems to be cleaned,
and what with people eating lunch here, etc., it gets kind of...
greasy. (I wanted to use some other word than "greasy", but that
seems to be the most accurate term.) It's an easy thing to deal
with though - you just come with an A3 sheet of paper - lay that over
the greasy counter, and you've got a clean space to work on.
Well, that's enough for now. I do find writing by hand (after not
doing so for quite a while) to be quite nice. There's something
profoundly fatiguing about using a computer. I'm still trying to
figure out why that is, but I imagine the stress of thinking about all
that is going on with the machine, combined with the multi-tasking
functionality of it, puts a pretty heavy load on a biped's CPU....
Okay - and that brings us back to today - August 24th, 2013. I've
got a load of things I want to get done this weekend, so I'll stop here.
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
2013/08/17
"1990 Taito-ku, Ikebukuro; 1991
Gotanda, Etc; 2013 Osaki, Asakusabashi, Etc."
The element of this batch of video files that most stands out to me
personally, are views of 1990 Taito-ku, and - after watching the
footage I took in 1991 - some modern views from 2013 of part of the
same area (near Asakusabashi Station) that I visited in 1990.
Otherwise there are typical views of here and there in Tokyo.
Nishi-Shinjuku Side Street Quick Look Around 西新宿 (130803)
http://youtu.be/zWt9-kevzO4
Summer Grass Plants Weeds Butterflies Etc (130803)
http://youtu.be/4dcXNaUwGXI
Summer Air-Conditioner Sound (Seibu Line) 130731
http://youtu.be/LPNFzHK1iwA
One of the elements of Tokyo summers for me is hearing the sound of the
air-conditioning units on trains. Newer ones are quieter, so I
took this video just to get the sound of the type I associate with
summer recorded before the sound disappears (since the trains are
continually being replaced with newer ones).
Entering Nihonbashi Station Near Tokyo Square Garden 銀座線日本橋駅 (130731)
http://youtu.be/1wuymfoInG8
From street level, down to the entrance, through the ticket gates, and
then down to the platform of Nihonbashi Station. As there was
time before the train arrived, I walked down to a more convenient part
of the platform (closer to the transfer stairs at the station I was
headed for).
Takadanobaba to Seibu-Shinjuku (Seibu Line) 高田馬場駅-西武新宿駅 西武線 (130730)
http://youtu.be/L_FibLXIv9w
Shinjuku - Waiting for the Walk Light to Change - Twilight View 新宿
(130730)
http://youtu.be/gqqcBOD7zlU
Shinjuku Omoide-Yokocho Twilight Stroll 夕暮れの新宿思い出横丁 (130730)
http://youtu.be/gm3LkkCOUcM
Shinjuku Chuo Line Platform Walk 夜の新宿駅中央線ホーム (130730)
http://youtu.be/wePig8_9r8A
Inbound Chuo Line Side Window View 中央線窓からの景色三鷹辺り (130731)
http://youtu.be/SU1Sks49z9o
Mitaka to Nakano (Chuo Line) 三鷹駅-中野駅 中央線 左側 (130731)
http://youtu.be/B7JfsKUFdk4
Nakano to Shinjuku (Chuo Line) 中野駅-新宿駅 中央線 左側 (130731)
http://youtu.be/cNIpecKXJVg
Shinjuku to Osaki (Tokaido Line) 湘南新宿ライン東海道線直通快速平塚行き (130731)
http://youtu.be/gAQFDVyAxeA
By the tracks being used, this is the Saikyo Line, but the train
continues on to the Tokaido Line tracks, and they introduce it as
"Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Tokaido-sen Chokutsu, Kaisoku" (Hiratsuka-yuki),
so.... Since "sen" is "line" in English, I'm a little puzzled at
the thinking behind using "line" written with katakana (ライン) for
"Shonan-Shinjuku Line" (instead of 線 [sen] for line), but when one
country borrows a term from another country, it usually is used a
little differently than in its native habitat, so I guess it's one of
those situations. That said, I'm wondering what exactly the local
meaning is for ライン....
Osaki Station Walk-through 大崎駅 駅内の様子 (130731)
http://youtu.be/ua7UB9JJhoI
500 pm Melody Behind Office Tower in Osaki 大崎高層ビル裏の午後五時メロディ (130731)
http://youtu.be/K8eaDXWCW10
Depending on the time of year, they have a "It's getting late... time
to go home kids" melody they play over public address systems - this
one played at 5:00 p.m. on July 31st, 2013 in Osaki.
Osaki to Shinagawa (Yamanote Line) 大崎駅-品川駅 山手線 (130731)
http://youtu.be/Eh0IxpomuW4
Shinagawa to Yurakucho (Yamanote Line) 品川駅-有楽町駅 夜の山手線 (130731)
http://youtu.be/t4sAdtBPELs
Ikebukuro to Shinjuku (Saikyo Line) 池袋駅-新宿駅 埼京線 (130803)
http://youtu.be/gY9bQ1MVFEI
Kawagoe Evening Shotengai Street Corner 川越夕暮れの商店街 (130802)
http://youtu.be/5ly3HmU51tc
Old Type JR Train Passing Through Kokubunji Station (130803)
http://youtu.be/soETnUzd1sQ
I like this type of express train, but they are getting old so there
are fewer and fewer of them still in use.
Shinjuku to Shin-Okubo (Yamanote Line) 新宿駅-新大久保駅 山手線 (130803)
http://youtu.be/114JOSCkjZo
Streetcar Crossing and Streetcar in Otsuka 大塚辺りの市電 (130803)
http://youtu.be/R3-2pY7WTos
Flowers by Streetcar Line in Otsuka 大塚市電の線路隣の花 (130803)
http://youtu.be/tqw5O7AOwF4
市電の踏切注意 Streetcar Crossing in Otsuka (130803)
http://youtu.be/qm1d39PBDAg
Entering Otsuka Station from South Side 大塚駅南側-池袋駅まで (130803)
http://youtu.be/e12if18468c
Before entering the station, I look up at a new building that was
nearing completion at the time (completed external structure, with
detail work being done on the interior). Then I go through the
ticket gates, up to the platform, onto a Yamanote Line train, and then
look out a right side door window as the train rolls to Ikebukuro.
Ikebukuro Station Platform Scene 池袋駅ホームの様子 (130803)
http://youtu.be/UqjW6D_U5hg
Summer Saturday Ikebukuro Station 夏の土曜日池袋駅内 (130803)
http://youtu.be/BdtzhUH8d9s
Hot Summer Sidewalk by Ikebukuro Station 池袋駅前の暑い夏の様子 (130803)
http://youtu.be/oR5gPNcayLE
Saturday Afternoon Ikebukuro Station 土曜日午後の池袋駅 (130803)
http://youtu.be/c8xSehWsiU0
1990 Taito-ku Walkabout 台東区散策散歩 浅草など (900813)
http://youtu.be/QCXA8xmZFQg
This is a long video at one hour and 53 minutes, but it covers a lot of
ground. It begins not far from Asakusabashi Station on the Sobu
Line, and then I walk (while looking around in some detail at the areas
I pass through) to the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, and from there (as
night falls) I walk to Uguisudani Station. Here are some of the
areas (in Japanese) that I walked through in the mainly residential
area near Asakusabashi:
浅草橋三丁目, 鳥越二丁目, おかず横丁, 鳥越一丁目, 小島一丁目, 小島二丁目, 三筋二丁目, 元浅草四丁目, 元浅草三丁目, 寿二丁目,
東京本願寺, 入谷一丁目, 下谷一丁目
After watching the 1990 scenes (again) in 2013, I decided to go back
and have a look at how it is now. Some parts look very similar,
but the shotengai had a very different feel to it. I think some
of the upper-middle-aged people I saw running the shops there in 1990
were the rather old people I saw still running them in 2013.
Walking down the street (on a holiday it should be noted), I didn't see
so much as a single customer at any of the open shops on the street....
The biggest change in the area as a whole are the many new apartment
buildings, typically 15-20 stories high.
There's more from my August 12th, 2013 visit further down the page, but
here are a batch of modern views from just one area, Torigoe 1-Chome
(鳥越一丁目), which I also walked through some 23 years before:
台東区鳥越一丁目 (A) 散策散歩 Taito-ku Torigoe 1-Chome Walkabout (130812)
http://youtu.be/n-mWwlAlJCY
台東区鳥越一丁目 (B) 散策散歩 Taito-ku Torigoe 1-Chome Walkabout (130812)
http://youtu.be/IsnBcu31s94
台東区鳥越一丁目 (C) 散策散歩 Taito-ku Torigoe 1-Chome Walkabout (130812)
http://youtu.be/C3RHT26q32o
台東区鳥越一丁目 (D) 散策散歩 Taito-ku Torigoe 1-Chome Walkabout (130812)
http://youtu.be/W3z8WFIl8AU
台東区鳥越一丁目 (E) 散策散歩 Taito-ku Torigoe 1-Chome Walkabout (130812)
http://youtu.be/m1g27m68cLI
And back to 1990:
1990 Uguisudani to Ikebukuro 鶯谷駅-池袋駅 山手線 (900813)
http://youtu.be/3fJmB8yLJmc
1990 Ikebukuro Station 910pm 午後の池袋駅 (900813)
http://youtu.be/2qtJvBTzMeg
1990 Ikebukuro Night 池袋の夜 (900813)
http://youtu.be/0aKCN-PC0Qk
1991 Harumi Fireworks 晴海花火 Walk to Yurakucho 有楽町まで散歩 (910810)
http://youtu.be/wLtK3Bqbj2Y
1991 Yurakucho to Ikebukuro 有楽町駅-池袋駅 有楽町線 (910810)
http://youtu.be/QlyNsEoGCKU
1991 Ikebukuro to Gotanda 池袋駅-五反田駅 山手線 (910819)
http://youtu.be/2ITG9EiWcFw
1991 Gotanda Afternoon 五反田午後 (910819)
http://youtu.be/9riMmIms3hU
1991 Gotanda to Nishi-Magome and Back 五反田駅-西馬込 都営浅草線 (910819)
http://youtu.be/CmdFnzM_IHM
1991 Gotanda to Shinjuku 五反田駅-新宿駅 山手線 (910819)
http://youtu.be/peXWK0X51m0
1991 Nishi-Shinjuku Stroll 西新宿散策散歩 (910819)
http://youtu.be/MM9ZhY9nObM
1991 Tokyo Shopping Etc 東京買い物など (910819)
http://youtu.be/-CzsPry59YA
1991 Tokyo - Here and There 東京の色々 (910822)
http://youtu.be/qJOARgdcI9g
1991 Gotanda to Togoshi Walk 五反田-戸越の散策散歩 (910822)
http://youtu.be/HJn2REZIARk
Nishi-Shinjuku Side Streets (Quick-360) 西新宿の夜道 (130813)
http://youtu.be/PZ7gmXkwzwU
Musashino Line 武蔵野線 Nishi-Kokubunji Station 西国分寺駅の最終電車 (130807)
http://youtu.be/cd3oXJLIIkw
Shinjuku to Shibuya (Tokaido Line) 湘南新宿ライン東海道線直通快速平塚行き (130807)
http://youtu.be/DjNCVlrrqbk
Shibuya to Ebisu (Tokaido Line) 湘南新宿ライン東海道線直通快速平塚行き (130807)
http://youtu.be/jFRFi1m4W7M
Ebisu to Osaki (Tokaido Line) 湘南新宿ライン東海道線直通快速平塚行き (130807)
http://youtu.be/My5QR3JBeAM
Tokaido Line Departing Osaki 東海道線 大崎駅から出発 (130807)
http://youtu.be/FM7tc8xsXoA
Gate City Osaki Atrium ゲートシティ大崎のアトリウム (130807)
http://youtu.be/SHdnyg8gdKA
Ebisu Station East Exit 恵比寿駅の東口 (130808)
http://youtu.be/pGYjvrya5YI
Waiting for a Train in Suburbia 電車来るまでを待っている (130813)
http://youtu.be/SDeaNoc1lxo
Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho at Night 夜の新宿思い出横丁 (130813)
http://youtu.be/FOk5HkfX6UY
Looking Out and Over Tokyo in Osaki 大崎オフィス街から東京の様子 (130807)
http://youtu.be/fyTlinvBXKw
Nighttime Approach to Osaki Station 夜の大崎駅に向かう 東側から (130807)
http://youtu.be/WkHAf2U-dso
Evening Osaki Station Entrance 夕方大崎駅入り口 (130807)
http://youtu.be/yWx-7wpx-pQ
Osaki Station Platform - All Green Yamanote Line Passing By 大崎駅 (130808)
http://youtu.be/XwWtIBf6_Ig
Gotanda to Meguro (Yamanote Line) 五反田駅-目黒駅 山手線 左側 (130808)
http://youtu.be/8FIwV9Q17SE
Nighttime Park in Ebisu (Quick View) 夜の恵比寿にある公園 渋谷川隣 (130808)
http://youtu.be/UZe5_UUgaxs
Inside of Pub (Quick View) 130808
http://youtu.be/uMmB_wDKQyo
Yoyogi to Shinjuku (Yamanote Line) FCV 代々木駅-新宿駅 山手線 (130808)
http://youtu.be/7SEvsWRubnw
Nakano Station (Waiting for Train) 中野駅で電車来るまで待っている (130808)
http://youtu.be/dY7C-0YijFw
The thing that is striking for me in this video is the sound of
crickets (or is it just one?) at about the 0:21 mark (and lasting just
a few seconds). They're pretty prominent in September as the
nights get cooler, but not so common in the heat of August, and at a
major train station with no apparent green anywhere, you have to wonder
where exactly the sound is coming from!
Red Arrow (Seibu Line) Departing Station 西武鉄道特急レッドアロー出発 (130808)
http://youtu.be/BVqpoLW15Dk
Tokyo Station Summer Concourse Crowds 夏東京駅内の通路 (130812)
http://youtu.be/klLdueWnlXw
Ogikubo (Walk to Station) 荻窪駅までの散策散歩 暑い日 Hot Summer Day (130812)
http://youtu.be/4N3V23VJxqQ
Reserved Seat Express Train Passing Ogikubo 荻窪駅から特急が通る (130812)
http://youtu.be/BJozSYXyRgY
東京駅夏休みの間 ある暑い日 山手線 Tokyo Station (Tokyo to Yurakucho) 130812g
http://youtu.be/prtUgDt9GLI
Yurakucho Station to Ginza 有楽町駅から銀座までの散策散歩 (130812)
http://youtu.be/hbXjYj_mN10
Construction Site on Chuo-dori in Ginza (130812)
http://youtu.be/hLtc8nTtL_Y
A very quick look at construction workers on Ginza's Chuo-dori putting
up a barrier around a new construction site over in Ginza 1-chome.
Tokyo Station Summer Crowds 東京駅の夏休み人々 (130812)
http://youtu.be/1EL9wgTm5m4
東京駅-川崎駅 東海道線 右側後向き Tokyo to Kawasaki (Tokaido Line) 130812
http://youtu.be/_Zr5jveScmI
Kawasaki Station Platform View 川崎駅ホームの様子 (130812)
http://youtu.be/7jnCeD5Qzlo
Kawasaki to Tokyo (Tokaido Line) 川崎駅-東京駅 東海道線 右側前向き (130812)
http://youtu.be/ytl3afcb12M
Akihabara Station (Wooden Roof Etc) 秋葉原駅総武線ホーム (130812)
http://youtu.be/fZZefr1k6Y4
There's not much wood left in Tokyo's train stations, but you find
glimpses of it here and there if you look carefully.
Akihabara to Asakusabashi (Sobu Line) 秋葉原駅-浅草橋駅 総武線 (130812)
http://youtu.be/E_-IlaBrNTw
Taito-ku Torigoe 2-Chome Walkabout 台東区鳥越二丁目 散策散歩 (130812)
http://youtu.be/uN81RLO3b38
Taito-ku Kuramae 4-Chome Walkabout 台東区蔵前四丁目散策散歩 (130812)
http://youtu.be/-bnftW6JkRU
台東区春日通り 木造建物と緑 Old Buildings with Plants on Kasuga-dori (130812)
http://youtu.be/3yVR9MVmZqw
An aspect of older versions of Tokyo that was much nicer than modern
Tokyo is how people would put a variety of potted plants around their
homes, making for nice, plant lined walkways in the city. As the
old places are torn down, generally new buildings cover all of the
ground with asphalt and/or concrete and often don't have any
plants. The old style - as you can see in this video - was a
little haphazard with a mix of assorted plants, seemingly chosen at
random, but made for a nice effect.
Shipping Container Building in Taito-ku (130812)
http://youtu.be/SIblWHmsxEk
Taito-ku Misuji 1-Chome Walkabout 台東区三筋一丁目 散策散歩 (130812)
http://youtu.be/i7BSHyQG7jY
For more views of this area taken on August 12th, 2013, see further up
the page where I posted some of the views that were originally in with
this batch (to show the contrast with 1990 views of the same area).
Asakusabashi Stationside Walkabout 浅草橋駅辺り散策散歩 (130812g)
http://youtu.be/ry1g9nRZcZQ
Rainy Asakusabashi 1-Chome Evening Streets 夕方雨の浅草橋一丁目 (130812)
http://youtu.be/xdNwex364Dg
Train Stop Buzzer Warning by Yotsuya Station (Seen from Shinjuku-ST)
130813
http://youtu.be/oYJbub8-J00
Night Trains Near Shinjuku Station 新宿駅と代々木駅の間の夜電車 (130813)
http://youtu.be/ZTq5ekMKbBY
Shinjuku Station South Exit Street Musician 新宿駅南口辺り道音楽人 130813na
http://youtu.be/pUV3TaKj_lg
Old Type JR Two-Door Train at Shinjuku 暑い夏 新宿駅で２ドアJR車両 (130814)
http://youtu.be/OjzSz12qOnk
Full Length of Shinjuku Saikyo Line Platform 新宿駅埼京線ホームの様子 (130814)
http://youtu.be/Jr3eVsocVug
Shinjuku to Osaki (Tokaido Line) 新宿駅-大崎駅 東海道線 右側 (130814)
http://youtu.be/nwJSnbip-H0
大崎ニューシティ辺り 目黒川隣 Osaki New City Plaza Quick Look-around (130814)
http://youtu.be/gS_Lcex0U28
New E233 Saikyo Line Train (Inside and Outside) 新型E233埼京線内外 (130814na)
http://youtu.be/k6sKLnebB80
This is a new train, and it's nice, although the new (LED I think)
interior lighting is quite powerful. I think if I spent much time
under those lights, I would like to use sunglasses. If you
compare the appearance of the interior of the train while it's stopped
at the platform with the lighting on the platform, the platform appears
dark, but actually the platform is very well-lit (bright), and the
interior is that much brighter still. Not sure why operating room
brightness levels are popular....
Shinjuku Nighttime Saikyo Line Platform 新宿駅埼京線ホームの様子 (130814)
http://youtu.be/x08uImNiiqg
Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://lylehsaxon.blogspot.jp/
http://lookback1997.blogspot.jp/
http://tokyoht.blogspot.jp/
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