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blog-L - (2010a)

2010/06/20

"'Tokyo 1990' Friends - Thank you!"

Yesterday was the final day of my "Tokyo 1990" video exhibition/installation.  A couple of friends came by and we stayed there late talking about things while I displayed the video on the ceiling (making it visible on the street to passers by).  By the time I noticed the time, it was just before the last train, so I missed it while cleaning up and spent the night there - sleeping on a row of chairs, using my backpack for a pillow, and getting up in time for the first train at around 5:00 a.m. (which is a story in its own right - especially the crowd of Kabukicho nightclub women who pour onto the train (the first outbound one in the morning) at Shinjuku Station).

It's been an interesting week - meeting people, showing them the hour-long collection of 1990 views of Tokyo (with some parts from 1991), explaining some scenes and seeing how people reacted to the video; which parts were interesting to different people and how different people reacted quite differently to some sections.

On Friday evening, one man noticed the changing light coming from the third floor window as he passed, and went into the building to investigate.  He sat down and watched the video intently for two and a half run-throughs (two-and-a-half hours), making comments about details such as maps for sale in front of a bookstore (what with Internet access from cell phones, no one buys maps anymore), and benches, bicycles and various junk under a rail bridge in Shibuya (now all strictly forbidden - with pedestrian traffic only), etc.  I'm sure he would have commented on many more things, but a friend from the UK came by, and since we were yakking away in English, he probably held off on saying anything more.

In general, people were (not surprisingly) interested in seeing areas that they are (or were) familiar with.  One regret I have now is that I probably put in too many scenes of the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line and Hibarigaoka, which are out of central Tokyo.  For this type of exhibit, it would have been better to have focused more on the areas most Tokyo residents are already familiar with, and kept scenes of fringe areas of Tokyo to a minimum.

Through it all, the backdrop of Room-306 in the Okuno Building made the experience a pleasant and interesting one for me.  I enjoyed sitting in a historical room in a comfortable old building with the windows and door open, allowing a breeze to blow through (passing through the building via a window in the back by the stairs, and also through an open door to the emergency staircase), and with no artificial lighting (save for the light of the video being projected onto the wall).  One of my big complaints in this life, has been suffering in stuffy airless sealed box-like buildings with 100 times more light (of the worst, most glaring type) than necessary.  So it was pure pleasure to sense the slight changes in lighting from the sun through the open windows as I sat in florescent-light-free bliss.  I can only envy pre-air-conditioning and pre-florescent light people their complete freedom from these modern forms of (slight, but long-lasting and persistent) torture.

What's next?  Good question!  I have plenty of material for more videos from the same time period, and hopefully can have more exhibits once I get more material edited.

A big thank you to my friends (new and old) who visited, as well as all the other visitors who spent some of their time in Room-306 watching my video and discussing it and ever-changing Tokyo.  And... maybe this sounds strange, but I would also like to thank the people who designed and built the Okuno Building (originally called "Ginza Apartment[s]", and all the tenants who lived there, giving the building its warm and settled atmosphere - especially Yoshi Suda, who used Room-306 for nearly the entire history of the 1932 building, being the room's first tenant and staying there until her death at 100 years of age in early 2009.

Oh - I almost forgot - during my exhibit, I took a break on June 16th and made a quick tour of the building, which I recorded and posted as follows:

"Okuno Building - Quick Tour (June 16th, 2010)" (100616-1444)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuya-4IF4Y0

A quick tour of the Okuno Building, from the 7th floor down to each of the two basements (the building is actually two buildings internally joined, but the basements are separate).

奥野ビルのクイックツアー - 2010年6月16日  東京

Lyle


2010/06/14

"20-78 - A Look Back in the Okuno Building"

The Okuno Building in Ginza was constructed about 78 years ago and I have a video exhibition/installation there now showing views of Tokyo 20 years ago (until the 19th).  Sitting in room 306, where the last tenant, Ms. Suda, lived until her death at 100 years of age in 2009, time and the passage of it are very much on my mind.  Just the past 20 years have brought about more change in Tokyo than you might think, but once you take a close look at pictures taken in 1990 (with some in 1991), it becomes apparent that you're looking at a different generation.

Analyzing that, it begins to make sense when you realize that someone 25 years old in 1990 is 45 now, and a baby in 1990 is 20 now.  It's a new set of young human beings walking around on the streets, and the previous young generation,  now middle-aged, are changed with life experience and aging, so everyone is different.  Add in Tokyo's Godzilla construction industry which never, ever, tires of tearing down anything older than two or three decades, and Tokyo 2010 is not the same city as Tokyo 1990.

That said, how about 1932, when the Okuno Building was built?  The 306-Project team is currently diligently looking into Ms. Suda's past, but almost all traces of former addresses (where she ran a chain a beauty parlors) have vanished beneath name changes, road building, etc., and when someone lives to be 100 years old, and died over a year ago, it's highly unlikely any of their friends are still alive.  If 20 years ago is one generation back, then 78 is nearly four generations back, and that's pretty much a whole different world.

One last comment.  Japan is currently in the "Heisei" era, which began in 1989.  An older woman yesterday, while watching my video from 1990, commented that it looked to her like a look back at the Showa era.  I hadn't thought of it that way until she told me that, but I think I agree.  No time to explain exactly why right now, but I agree.

And... here's a video I took on the 3rd floor of the Okuno Building, which shows the hallways and stairwells there, and then has a look into room 306:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3skqwUvMVk

Lyle


2010/06/08

"Kanda to Yurakucho and Hibiya Park Octoberfest (in May)"

Beginning this batch with typical train scenes - riding from Kanda to Tokyo and then from Tokyo to Yurakucho, looking out a right side window of a Keihin-Tohoku Line train.

After that are three clips from this year's Hibiya Park (May) Octoberfest, featuring German beer and music in Hibiya Park.  The weather was a bit rainy this year, but it was a nice (and dry) night when I dropped by and took these videos.

"Kanda to Tokyo, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Right Side View" (100525Tu-1713)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAIdaIEaYcc

Keihin-Tohoku Line train from Kanda to Tokyo, looking out a right side window, facing rearward.

京浜東北線で、神田駅から、東京駅まで (右側風景)  東京


"Tokyo to Yurakucho, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Right Side View" (100525Tu-1715)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djuSGJo8y5o

Keihin-Tohoku Line train from Tokyo to Yurakucho, looking out a right side window, showing the track-side view of Kokusai Forum as the train passes it.

京浜東北線で、東京駅から、有楽町駅まで (右側風景) 国際フォーラム  東京


"Yurakucho Station, Platform to Exit" (100525Tu-1717)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=say8z0lbrL4

At Yurakucho Station, starting on the platform and then walking down the stairs and towards the ticket gates.

有楽町駅で、プラットフォームから、出口まで  東京


"Hibiya Park May Octoberfest (1/3)" (100525Tu-1914)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G-vLcBbpqs

Hibiya Park's annual May Octoberfest, which I suppose could be called "Mayfest", since it's held every spring here.  Taken right after I arrived.  (First of three clips.)

日比谷公園五月のオクトーバーフェスト  東京


"Hibiya Park May Octoberfest (2/3)" (100525Tu-2055)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBGHyDQzNjs

Hibiya Park's annual May Octoberfest, which I suppose could be called "Mayfest", since it's held every spring here.  (Second of three clips.)

日比谷公園五月のオクトーバーフェスト  東京


"Hibiya Park May Octoberfest (3/3)" (100525Tu-2106)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v_K6lb6iVo

Hibiya Park's annual May Octoberfest, which I suppose could be called "Mayfest", since it's held every spring here.  Walking past some of the tables set up around the fountain.  (Third of three clips.)

日比谷公園五月のオクトーバーフェスト  東京

Lyle


2010/06/02

"Trains, Yurakucho, Ginza, and Trains"

Starting with a rare clip from the inside of a morning rush hour(s) Chuo Line train ("rare" because usually it would be rude to record video in morning rush conditions, but one morning, no one was facing me, so I was able to take a quick clip without showing anyone's face), then train clips from a ride to Yurakucho, followed by views of Yurakucho and Ginza, and wrapping up with more train views.

"Inside Rush Hour Chuo Line Train" (100524Mo-0931)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX-SSpLzSuo

Normally I don't take pictures of the inside of trains during rush hour, but I looked over and noticed that no one was directly facing the camera, so I figured it wouldn't be rude to take a quick clip.  It was also easy to take due to it getting a little late (just past 9:30 a.m.), so the people density wasn't particularly high.

朝通勤ラッシュ中央線の中  東京


"Kanda to Tokyo (Left Side Forward View)" (100524Mo-1005)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlayWhBvb7c

Riding the Yamanote Line from Kanda to Tokyo, looking out a left-side window - looking ahead (at about a 45-degree angle).  Reaching Tokyo Station, I get off and observe the unloading and loading ritual.

山手線 - 神田駅から東京駅まで、左側前向き風景  東京


"Tokyo to Yurakucho (Left-Side Rearward View)" (100524Mo-1007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BNc5AiBLDE

Riding a Yamanote Line train from Tokyo Station to Yurakucho Station, looking out a left window, facing rearward (for most of the ride anyway).

山手線 - 東京駅から有楽町駅まで、左側後向き風景  東京


"Yurakucho - Various Passing Trains" (100524Mo-1009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTm_BTm9ouI

First, watching the Yamanote Line train I rode into Yurakucho on depart, and then watching a few trains (Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku) coming and going - after which I descend the stairs and head towards the exit.

有楽町駅のプラットフォームから見て、あっちこっち通る電車  東京


"Walking Down Rainy Street in Yurakucho" (100524Mo-1011)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7JSYUlmaMs

Walking down a street (away from Yurakucho Station) in the rain.

有楽町道 - 雨中の散歩  東京


"Yurakucho Rain - Nearing Ginza" (100524Mo-1013)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUUKhm5qO80

Continuing towards Ginza - still within Yurakucho, but with the central Ginza area straight ahead.  At this point, it was raining fairly hard, but the amount of water falling from the sky lessened soon after this was taken.

有楽町道、銀座に近くなる - 雨中の散歩  東京


"Walking in the Rain..." (100524Mo-1026)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6qbhrokd0w

Walking down a side street in the rain.  I walked into Tsukiji from Ginza that day, so I'm not sure if this street was in Ginza, or in Tsukiji.  Maybe... Tsukiji?

雨中の散歩 - ここは、銀座だったのか、築地だったのか、ちょっと分からないですが、すみません！  東京


"Exiting Typical Tokyo Building" (100524Mo-1112)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS1-EYK_Lhs

Walking down and out to the street from a typical building in Tokyo - this particular one in Tsukiji - near to Ginza.

オフィスから、道までの階段散歩  東京


"Walking Over Highway in Ginza" (100524Mo-1115)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ptoh_neGQ4

Walking over the highway that runs through Ginza.  Since it runs down in a culvert, it's not noticeable once you're a little way from it.

銀座の高速道路を渉る  東京


"Chuo-dori Stroll to 4-Chome Intersection" (100524Mo-1153)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlOcGN_s2g0

Walking down Chuo-dori in Ginza - up to the 4-Chome crossing, waiting for the light to change while standing across from the Nissan Showroom.

銀座中央通散歩 - 銀座四丁目交差点まで  東京


"Crossing Ginza 4-Chome Intersection in Rain" (100524Mo-1156)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iMW3ocpIKI

Crossing the street at the 4-chome intersection - walking towards the Nissan Showroom.

銀座四丁目交差点の横断歩道を渉る  東京


"Ginza Clock Tower Building Bells Ringing" (100524Mo-1203)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8Nb2QUEkTs

Listening to the old clock tower building bells ringing out twelve noon, and then heading down Chuo-dori for a stroll.

銀座四丁目交差点の古い時計ビルのベルが鳴る  東京


May 2010 Tokyo-ten / サロンと東京展五月 - オープニングパーティ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bo6es7u3FU

At the opening party for the May group-exhibition of the Tokyo-ten art group at Gallery Ginza-One, the artists sang a few lines from an old song for the camera.

銀座の奥濃ビルアートスペース銀座ワン - サロンと東京展五月 - オープニングパーティ  東京


"Boarding Late-Night Chuo Line at Tokyo Station" (100524Mo-2332)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs2eW7Z7Eu4

Watching a late night Chuo Line train come in and then boarding it.

東京駅で、夜遅く中央線電車に乗る  東京


"Orange 201-Series Chuo Line - May 25th, 2010" (100525Tu-0010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA3-pSl7k6o

I noticed several posts to YouTube of "Sayonara 201-Series" Chuo Line clips dated April 17th, so I was a little surprised to see an orange 201-Series Chuo Line train early morning May 25th, 2010 (or late night May 24th, 2010, since it was just past 12:00 midnight).  I was in a hurry, so I didn't stop and take a close look, but in any case, you can see the train in this clip, still on the rails, stopped at the platform, and with people aboard.

オレンジ201-シリーズ中央線電車、2010年5月25日、国分寺駅  東京

Lyle


2010/05/28

"Musashisakai Station Under Construction and the Seibu Tamagawa Line"

This set of clips begins with a transfer walk from the JR part of Musashisakai Station, to the Seibu-Tamagawa Line part of the same station.  The renovated station is still under construction, so when it's complete, transfers will probably be easier.

Once I get on the Seibu-Tamagawa Line, I show the view out the front cab between the stations of that short line.  The train for most of the video clips was painted all-white (as opposed to the Seibu Line's usual yellow) and had the kanji for "haru" (spring) on it.

On the other end of the Tamagawa Line from Musashisakai Station, I walk along the Tamagawa River and - later - take a bike ride.

"Musashisakai Station - Chuo Line to Tamagawa Line" (100520Th-1400)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UB5K8Q-zs0

Transferring at Musashisakai Station from the Chuo Line to the Seibu-Tamagawa Line.

A lot of new construction on this station has been completed, but there is a bit to go yet, with some of the under-construction parts visible in this video.

武蔵境駅 - 中央線から西武多摩川線まで(工事中)  東京


"Tamagawa Line - 'Haru' Train at Musashisakai Station" (100520Th-1405)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5jA0E1hx4A

Looking down the newly elevated tracks at the Seibu part of Musashisakai Station, and then turning around and looking at an old type Seibu Line train with a new white paint job, named "Haru" (Spring).

武蔵境駅、西武多摩川線の白い「春」電車  東京


"Musashisakai to Shinkoganei (Tamagawa Line)" (100520Th-1409)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxMYhyMUJCI

Riding a white "Haru" (Spring) Seibu-Tamagawa Line train from Musashisakai Station to Shinkoganei Station.

西武多摩川線で、武蔵境駅から新小金井駅まで  東京


"Shinkoganei to Tama (Tamagawa Line)" (100520Th-1412)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61XBjion0DM

Riding a white "Haru" (Spring) Seibu-Tamagawa Line train from Shinkoganei Station to Tama Station.

西武多摩川線で、新小金井駅から多摩駅まで  東京


"Tama to Shiraitodai (Tamagawa Line)" (100520Th-1415)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPFeTS4BDbI

Riding a white "Haru" (Spring) Seibu-Tamagawa Line train from Tama Station to Shiraitodai Station.

西武多摩川線で、多摩駅から白糸台駅まで  東京


"Shiraitodai to Kyoteijomae (Tamagawa Line)" (100520Th-1417)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWQSKTn3Mn0

Riding a white "Haru" (Spring) Seibu-Tamagawa Line train from Shiraitodai Station to Kyoteijomae Station.

西武多摩川線で、白糸台駅から競艇場前駅まで  東京


"'Haru' Tamagawa Line Train at Kyoteijomae Station" (100520Th-1420)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4yDkw7FFpQ

Watching an all white (as opposed to the Seibu Line's usual yellow) "Haru" (Spring) train leave Kyoteijomae Station.

There's a boat racing place right next to this station.  The story goes that Fuchu residents allow racing (with betting) in exchange for low property taxes (thanks to the revenue the race-betting brings to the city).

競艇場前駅で、西武多摩川線の白い「春」電車が出発  東京


"Tamagawa River Parkway" (100520Th-1433)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7GQ6HNP1CQ

A 360-degree look around from a paved pedestrian path that runs along Tamagawa.  (This was recorded in Fuchu.)

多摩川の川側公園  東京


"Koremasa to Kyoteijomae (Tamagawa Line)" (100520Th-1448)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZUrDASsl98

Riding a regular yellow-colored Seibu-Tamagawa Line train from Koremasa Station to Kyoteijomae Station.

西武多摩川線で、是政駅から競艇場前駅まで  東京


"Tamagawa Riverside Water Treatment Plant" (100520Th-1514)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hm7daZJLYk

Walking by and looking over at water output from a water treatment plant next to Tamagawa River.

多摩川隣の水掃除所  東京


"Fuchu Bike Ride" (100520Th-1551)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRkSZM7ByCE

Riding a bike in Fuchu.

府中の自転車ライド  東京

Lyle


2010/05/23

"Yotsuya to Shinjuku Views and Shinjuku Street Musicians"

The first video below is of a vertical look out a right side window of a Chuo Line train as it runs from Yotsuya to Shinjuku.  My favorite part of the clip is at the end, as it pulls into Shinjuku Station.  I like the effect of the platform and the people waiting for the train flowing by the window.

I got off the train in Shinjuku and all the other video clips in this post were taken there, including two individual street musicians and one jazz band.

"Yotsuya to Shinjuku - Chuo Line Vertical View" (100518Tu-1834)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-euwZlM8crw

Vertical view out a right side window of a Chuo Line train as it rolled from Yotsuya to Shinjuku - taken at twilight, so the outside scenery flowing past mixes with internal reflections of the inside of the train.

Note: The train enters a short tunnel right after departing Yotsuya Station, and the only thing you can see while in the tunnel, is the reflection of the inside of the train - but once it's past the tunnel, there's a good mix of outside direct views and reflections of the inside of the train.

Also, since I was near the front of the train, nearly the whole of the platform at Shinjuku Station flows by before the doors open.  [ILTO]

中央線で四ッ谷駅から、新宿駅までの夕方(立て)ビュー  東京


"Shinjuku Platform Stroll" (100518Tu-1838)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_UGdBSNrOg

Walking along the Chuo Line platform as it takes on a load of people and departs for the next station.  Walking next to the train as it accelerates out of the station, I contemplate how platform walls are safer, but that it's much more exciting and visually interesting to have the train right there out in the open.

新宿駅プラットフォーム散歩しながら中央線が出発  東京


"Shinjuku South Exit - May 18th, 2010" (100518Tu-1852)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjsfyXkCTDA

I walk past a row of unused public telephones in Shinjuku Station, turn towards the right and go through the south exit ticket gates, and then across the street (technically entering Shibuya, although almost everyone considers this area to be Shinjuku, due to its proximity to Shinjuku Station).

新宿南口 - 平成二十二年五月十八日  東京


"Evening Southern Terrace" (100518Tu-1902)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzs3iBtAftg

Looking back towards Shinjuku Station from an area of Shibuya that most people don't seem to realize is not actually in Shinjuku.  But it *is* right by Shinjuku Station, so that makes it effectively Shinjuku, since people go by large station names for area identification, more than they go by the actual address.

夕方の新宿サザンテラス(イン渋谷)  東京


"Downhill From Shinjuku Southern Terrace" (100518Tu-1906)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4UExT3FbZY

Walking downhill from Shinjuku Southern Terrace.  This street is the line between Shibuya and Shinjuku, and I'm walking on the Shibuya side in this video.

新宿サザンテラス丘から下り道  東京


"M - Mayura Haruri - Live in Shinjuku - May 18th, 2010" (100518Tu-1911)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-iRMc2ZIM0

I stumbled upon Mayura Haruri playing live in front of the Keio Department Store in Shinjuku.  I liked her voice and wanted to buy a CD, but she was still singing when I had to leave for an appointment, so I couldn't.  Oh well... maybe I'll see her live somewhere else.

Her website is:
http://www.majjullahalre.com/

新宿でマユラハルリ ストリート ライブ、平成二十二年五月十八日  東京


"Shinjuku Station West Side Walk" (100518Tu-2146)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T7jsHeGfJc

Nishi-Shinjuku.  By "Shinjuku Station" in the title, I mean the area immediately in front of the station - in this case the west side.  (In this video, I don't enter the station.)

新宿駅前(西側)の夜散歩  東京


"M - Yoshida Chuta - Live in Shinjuku" (100518Tu-2151)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIZjwaANBUM

Yoshida Chuta playing his guitar live in Shinjuku.

This is the second time I've seen the guitarist Yoshida Chuta playing in Shinjuku - the last time was April 13th, 2010.

His website is:
http://do-do-chuta.com/

新宿でストリートライブギタリスト吉田忠太  東京


"M - Jazz Band Live in Shinjuku" (100518Tu-2153)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxGA6IFuAwk

I think I've seen these guys play before, but I'll have to go back through old videos and take a look.  Unfortunately, I didn't get the name of them the night I took this video.

(Watching this video after the fact, it looks like there might be some kind of flyers in the guitar case... I wish I'd picked one up...)

新宿でストリートライブジャズバンド  東京

Lyle


2010/05/22b

"Yurakucho, Ginza, Chuo Line, Etc."

Starting off with a view of the ride from Tokyo to Yurakucho, then a look around Yurakucho and back to the trains, showing the rides from Yurakucho to Tokyo, Tokyo to Kanda, and Kanda to Ochanomizu.

"Yamanote Line - Tokyo to Yurakucho, Left Side View" (100518Tu-1146)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD4089ZRSmc

Looking out a left side window on a Yamanote Line train from Tokyo to Yurakucho, where I get off the train and head for the stairs.

東京駅から、有楽町駅まで、山手線の左側風景  東京


"Yurakucho - Short Narrow Path Under Tracks" (100518Tu-1148)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jmySLhTwgs

Walking down a short, narrow path right after coming out of Yurakucho Station, and then turning and coming out into the sunlight.

有楽町駅、ガード下の細い、短い道  東京


"Car Culture Ginza Main Street" (100518Tu-1152)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibxAJSR0EBs

Waiting for the light to change so I can cross an asphalt wasteland without getting run over by fire-breathing machinery.  Large cities, especially mega-cities like Tokyo, would be vastly improved if personal cars were forbidden from entering the city.

To my car-lover friends who may be offended at my criticism of fire-breathing machinery:  Yeah, I know, it's not all that far to the other side, but for pedestrians, cars ruin main roads like this.  The basic feeling is one of stress, with the constant noise and exhaust fumes.  Turning down a side street and escaping the fire-breathing machinery is always a relief.

車文化の銀座大通り、広い面白くないアスファルト  東京


"Crosswalk Between Kokusai Forum and Yurakucho Station" (100518Tu-1723)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0nkfP1dUUY

Walking from Kokusai Forum to one of the entrances to Yurakucho Station.

国際フォーラムと有楽町駅の間の横断歩道  東京


"Looking Around by Yurakucho SB" (100518Tu-1813)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LosukUT1xcw

Looking around while standing on the opposite side of the street from Yurakucho SB.

有楽町スタンドバーの近くの見回り  東京


"Back to Yurakucho Station" (100518Tu-1816)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FBh7UgVQE4

Walking back to Yurakucho Station as the sun sets....  The sounds of the elevated trains are an important component of the atmosphere in Tokyo.

有楽町駅に戻る  電車の音は、東京の雰囲気の一つ  東京


"Yurakucho Station and Ride to Tokyo" (100518Tu-1818)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxFJ-G0-_Ns

Looking around on the platform in Yurakucho, and then getting on a Keihin-Tohoku Line train and watching the scenery flow by outside (on the right side) during the ride to Tokyo Station, where I get off and head for the stairs.

有楽町駅から始まり、京浜東北線の電車を乗って、東京駅に行きます  東京


"Tokyo Station Chuo Line Stroll" (100518Tu-1822)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewAU-8Bi8KU

Walking along the edge of the Chuo Line platform at Tokyo Station as a Chuo Line train arrives at the station.  After watching the train come in, I climb aboard.

東京駅の中央線プラットフォーム散歩  東京


"Tokyo to Kanda - Twilight View" (100518Tu-1825)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=homLxq-bgCo

Left side window, twilight view, from inside a Chuo Line train from Tokyo Station to Kanda Station, including a look through the train to the other side, where a Keihin-Tohoku Line train is running in parallel.

中央線で東京駅から、神田駅までの左側夕方窓ビュー  東京


"Kanda to Ochanomizu - Vertical Twilight View" (100518Tu-1826)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNoLr1ZCK88

A vertical view out the left side of a Chuo Line train between Kanda and Ochanomizu - with reflections of the train interior mixed in with the outside view of Tokyo flowing by.

中央線で神田駅から、御茶ノ水駅までの左側窓ビュー(立て)  東京

Lyle


2010/05/22a

"Chuo Line Inside Views, Ginza Exhibition, Etc."

Several - probably too many - views from inside Chuo Line trains, which are probably boring to watch for most people, but might become more interesting with the passage of time, since Tokyo never stops changing.  Also, for people not living in Tokyo, they show somewhat how it is to ride the Chuo Line and Tokyo trains in general (although each line has its own character).

There are also some views of the inside of the Okuno Building in Ginza - possible the building with the most interesting atmosphere in all of Ginza.

And just in case there aren't enough train views with all those Chuo Line views, there are a couple of Seibu-Kokubunji Line views (from the inside, looking out) as well.

"Chuo Tokkai - Kokubunji to Mitaka" (100518Tu_1102)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-tTh9NKwvA

Riding the "Chuo-Tokkai" (Chuo Line Tokubetsu-Kaisoku [Special Rapid]) from Kokubunji to Mitaka.

中央線の特別快速(中央特別快速/中央特快)、国分寺駅から三鷹駅まで  東京


"Chuo Tokkai - Mitaka to Nakano (Almost)" (100518Tu_1108)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW1BxbmqaxQ

Riding the "Chuo-Tokkai" (Chuo Line Tokubetsu-Kaisoku [Special Rapid]) from Mitaka to Nakano - well... *almost* to Nakano.  The train was delayed, so it was taking longer than usual.  I cut off the clip a little before Nakano to stay within ten minutes recording time.

中央線の特別快速(中央特別快速/中央特快)、三鷹駅から中野駅まで  東京


"Okuno Building - 3rd Floor" (100518Tu-1218)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1kUTJpq1HI

Looking around a little on the third floor of the Ginza Okuno Building.

銀座奥野ビルの三階、平成二十二年五月十八日  東京


"HUST 'In Vitro-II' Installation in Ginza" (100518Tu-1304)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPCy71PLHDE

A view of the latest installation by HUST (Hideyuki Usuki and Shingo Toyama) at Gallery Ginza 1-Chome, as well as part of the path through the Okuno Building on the way to the exhibit.  This installation runs from May 18th through to May 25th, 2010.

銀座奥野ビル四階のギャラリー銀座一丁目で、HUST(臼木英之 & 遠山伸吾)のインスタレーション - 5月18日から5月25日まで


"Niramusi Installation at Kobo in Ginza" (100518Tu-1541)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr3saSz3MBE

A quick look at an installation by Niramusi at Kobo-2 in the Okuno Building.  This installation runs from May 17th through to May 22nd, 2010.

銀座奥野ビル三階のギャラリー巷房2で新山にらむし展のインスタレーション - 5月17日から5月22日まで


"Yurakucho, Passage Under Tracks, and Yakitori Tunnel" (100518Tu-1719)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wMG_m-3I0o

Walking down a daylight-bright street towards Yurakucho Station; turning right into the (comparatively) dark passageway under the Shinkansen railway tracks, and then turning left into Yakitori Tunnel (my term).

有楽町の道と新幹線線路下と焼鳥トンネル  東京


"Takanodai to Koigakubo - Left Rear View" (100518Tu-1054)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01LnZv9u0f8

Left-rear view from Seibu-Kokubunji Line train as it rolls from Takanodai Station to Koigakubo Station.  Looking much greener than it did in the winter (naturally!).

西武国分寺線、鷹の台駅から恋ヶ窪駅まで、左後風景  東京


"From Koigakubo, Halfway to Kokubunji" (100518Tu-1056)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfi8zPHSgOw

Left-rear view from Seibu-Kokubunji Line train as it rolls from Koigakubo Station towards Kokubunji Station.  (Also a quick look at the interior of the train as it rolls along.)

西武国分寺線、恋ヶ窪駅から国分寺駅の方、左後風景  東京


"Chuo Line - Late Train Rolling into Nakano" (100518Tu-1118)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOz_ywLdn74

Riding a Chuo Line train running behind schedule as it arrives at Nakano Station.  A live announcement on the train explains that the train was delayed due to a passenger action ("jinshin jiko") earlier in the day at Suidobashi Station.

遅くなった中央線電車が中野駅に到着 -「遅くなったすみません」のアナウンス  東京


"Nakano to Shinjuku (Chuo Line)" (100518Tu-1120)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHsKgpX0diU

A right side view from a Chuo Line train between Nakano and Shinjuku Stations.

中央線の中野駅から、新宿駅まで 右側風景  東京


"Shinjuku to Yotsuya (Chuo Line)" (100518Tu-1126)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFebiiGmr0

A right side view from a Chuo Line train between Shinjuku and Yotsuya Stations.

中央線の新宿駅から、四ッ谷駅まで 右側風景  東京


"Yotsuya (Partway) to Ochanomizu (Chuo Line)" (100518Tu-1130)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHBYQQEcTjw

A right side view from a Chuo Line train rolling from Yotsuya - going partway to Ochanomizu Station.

中央線の四ッ谷駅から、御茶ノ水駅まで 右側風景  東京


"Ochanomizu to Kanda (Chuo Line)" (100518Tu-1135)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4sBCnWwqGw

A right side view from a Chuo Line train between Ochanomizu and Kanda Stations.

中央線の御茶ノ水駅から、神田駅まで 右側風景  東京


"Kanda (Partway) to Tokyo (Chuo Line)" (100518Tu-1138)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joEQeEAKQWg

A right side view from a Chuo Line train from Kanda - going partway to Tokyo Station.  (I stopped recording when the train stopped between stations in order to wait for a slot to open at Tokyo Station.)

中央線の神田駅から、東京駅まで 右側風景  東京


"Yamanote Line Arriving at Tokyo Station" (100518Tu-1144)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6DjR2Mtnc4

Watching a Yamanote Line train arrive from the platform at Tokyo Station.  This is probably the most relaxed time to ride the trains - just before lunch.  At lunchtime, people are moving about, and once past lunch, things begin to pick up with people leaving for home early, students going home from school, etc.

東京駅の山手線電車が遣って来る  東京


"Running for the Yamanote Line - Tokyo Station" (100518Tu-1145)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ4QytGPu2E

People running across the platform from a Keihin-Tohoku Line kaisoku (rapid) train that arrives just before the Yamanote Line train departs.

During some parts of the day, the Keihin-Tohoku Line skips some stations to act as an express, so people wanting off at intermediary stations have to change over to the Yamanote Line, which stops everywhere.  (At other times of the day, both the Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tohoku Line stop at all the same stations while the lines are running in parallel.)

東京駅の山手線と快速京浜東北線、乗り換え人々  東京

Lyle


2010/05/17

"Yurakucho to Tokyo, and Nighttime Shinjuku"

Beginning with a right side view out the window of a Keihin-Tohoku Line train that I took from Yurakucho to Tokyo, and then showing different scenes in Shinjuku - from the Chuo Line platform to scenes from around the South Exit and then views from Nishi-Shinjuku.

"Twilight Yurakucho to Tokyo via Keihin-Tohoku Line" (100511Tu-1831)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTpf-y8BLuk

Right side window view on a Keihin-Tohoku Line train running from Yurakucho Station to Tokyo Station - running in parallel with an inbound Shinkansen train, which is also pulling into Tokyo Station.  After getting off at Tokyo, taking the stairs down for a transfer.

夕方京浜東北線で有楽町駅から東京駅までに行く - 隣に新幹線が走っている  東京


"Outbound Chuo Line Platform at Shinjuku - 6:51 p.m." (100511Tu-1851)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByYsEm3Nwe4

Getting off of an outbound Chuo Line train at Shinjuku Station, looking at conditions on the platform, and then watching the train depart.

新宿駅の下り中央線の様子  東京


"Shinjuku - Southeast Exit to South Exit" (100511Tu-1857)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upGvqd0hZuQ

Exiting Shinjuku Station from the Southeast Exit and then walking through a shopping passageway to the South Exit.  Being just before 7:00 p.m., it's fairly crowded.

新宿駅東南口から南口までの散歩  東京


"Shinjuku - Japan's Most Crowded Train Station" (100511Tu-1900)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmcYfI6koM0

Walking through the area in front of the South Exit of Shinjuku Station at 7:00 p.m.  Shinjuku has the highest number of people passing through it in Japan.  Watching this video, keep in mind that this is just one exit - the East and West exits have about the same number of people passing through.  There are also other, less crowded exits.

新宿駅 - 日本のもっとも込んでいる駅  東京


"Shinjuku - West Side Crossing in Rain" (100511Tu-1902)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3Hj3fCpcxk

Walking up to a crossing in Nishi-Shinjuku, waiting for the light to change, and then walking across in the rain in a sea of umbrellas.

西新宿横断歩道の雨と傘の風景  東京


"Nishi-Shinjuku - Walk to Yodobashi Camera" (100511Tu-1903)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoibzftaNro

Walking through the rain in Nishi-Shinjuku towards Yodobashi Camera.

西新宿 - ヨドバシカメラまで雨の中の散歩  東京


"Nishi-Shinjuku Rain Walk by Shinjuku Station" (100511Tu-2204)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msY7A9w1jAw

Walking through the rain on the wide sidewalk in front of the west side of Shinjuku Station.

新宿駅前(西口)雨中の風景  東京


"Shinjuku Omoide-Yokocho in the Rain" (100511Tu-2206)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaw0Ihsu1e8

A walk through Omoide-Yokocho in the rain.  Incidentally, at one point, you can hear one of the shopkeepers talking to another shopkeeper - I'm not sure what language it is, but it's not Japanese.

新宿で雨の思い出横丁の様子  東京


"Heading from Nishi-Shinjuku to Kabukicho" (100511Tu-2208)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8TMyNnd_AQ

Crossing a main street and then walking under the tracks from Nishi-Shinjuku - heading towards Kabukicho, which is on the left side of the street after coming out from beneath the rail bridge.  A Sobu Line (Chuo Line local) passes overhead just before I go under the bridge.

西新宿から歌舞伎町に向かう  東京

Lyle


2010/05/16b

"Higashi-Ginza, Ginza Stroll, and Yurakucho"

Starting off near Higashi-Ginza after riding into Ginza on the Hibiya Line, and then walking into Ginza and then over to Yurakucho.

"Higashi-Ginza Station Area" (100511Tu-1251)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jNxRro4jrs

The above-ground station area for Higashi-Ginza Station, on the Hibiya (subway) Line.  Walking towards the (former) Ginza Kabuki Theater, which workers were just putting up barriers around to prepare for demolishing it.

地下鉄日比谷線の東銀座駅あたり  東京


"Large Asphalt Intersection in Ginza" (100511Tu-1254)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjGvYQWVZVg

Waiting to cross a large asphalt intersection built for the convenience of fire-breathing machinery.  I can remember an age when large streets and intersections were where people and businesses wanted to be -  now they just feel like toxic zones (full of air and noise pollution) to avoid.  Two-lane streets are not so bad, but four and six lane roads are horrible to be on or near if you're not driving.

To my car-owning friends: I know - you love your cars, and I loved mine when I owned them, but the world will be a vastly better place when humanity gets past using bloody internal combustion engines.

東銀座駅あたり  東京


"Showa-dori Stroll" (100511Tu-1255)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHO78BLOMi0

A stroll along Ginza's Showa-dori - which is no fun at all, due to the constant unpleasant noise of internal combustion noxious gas emitting machinery.  I can't believe how much I used to love cars... I hate them now - or, more specifically, I hate them in the city, where they're not necessary and they degrade the quality of life for everyone (via noise, pollution, and space consumed, etc.).

銀座の昭和通り...と言うか、雑音通りを言ったほうがいいのか... (車は嫌いです)  東京


"Ginza Showa-dori, Waiting for Light" (100511Tu-1258)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOLBIwvStYE

Standing on a corner, looking around while waiting for the light to change.

Walking would be a lot more pleasant throughout the city if non-commercial vehicles were banned.  When you get to a certain density of population, personal cars don't make much sense any more.

銀座の昭和通り... シグナルを青になるまで見回る  東京


"Nearing Yurakucho Station" (100511Tu-1737)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP0HvGW-G7s

Walking towards Yurakucho Station in the evening... looking up... watching an outbound shinkansen train pass, etc.

有楽町駅に向かって上に見たり、新幹線を通るを見たり...  東京


"Yurakucho Plaza - Heading Under Tracks" (100511Tu-1738)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TWDgsBGjDo

Looking around the plaza in front of Yurakucho Station in the twilight just before night.

有楽町駅前の夕方広場  東京


"Yurakucho Crosswalk by Station" (100511Tu-1739)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icEOYfj83aI

Walking over to the crosswalk in front of Yurakucho Station on my way to the Denki Building.

有楽町駅前の横断歩道  東京


"Yurakucho - Crossing Sidewalk" (100511Tu-1740)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rJEmAS2YYo

Walking across the wide sidewalk in front of Yurakucho Station on my way to the Denki Building.

有楽町駅前の横断歩道を渡る  東京


"Yurakucho - Umbrella Stroll to Station" (100511Tu-1828)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHvKCdClbfQ

Walking back to Yurakucho Station in the rain (from the Denki Building).

有楽町駅までの傘散歩  東京


"Boarding Keihin-Tohoku Line at Yurakucho" (100511Tu-1829)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXeabKE0LgQ

Looking around the Yurakucho Station platform - watching trains, including a Keihin-Tohoku Line train, which I board as a Yamanote Line train comes in on the other side of the platform.

有楽町駅で京浜東北線電車を乗る  東京

Lyle


2010/05/16a

"New Platform Walls in Ebisu, and Hibiya Line Cab View"

Beginning with a view of the new platform walls being installed at Ebisu Station for the Yamanote Line; continuing with a walk over to the Hibiya (subway) Line, and then a few long, boring views looking through the cab (of a Hibiya Line train) at the tunnel ahead mixed in with reflections of the interior of the train.

If they're boring, why post them?  As time passes, this kind of material can be useful for understanding the ambiance of a given era - the motor sounds of the train, the voice of the announcements, the clothing and posture of passengers.  All these things are just background normalcy now, but become elements of nearly-forgotten history with the passage of time.  Without proper records, these things easily become distorted from the perspective of the future.

So - for those who value the truth, and want to accurately understand the past, I say to you, from my present - to your present (my future, your past), have a good look.  This is how it was.

"New Barriers at Ebisu Station" (100511Tu-1216)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hul8_fYuqUM

Ebisu Station with new platform barriers half-installed.  Safety is good of course, but it seems like instead of the old common-sense approach, things are getting obsessive.  Don't open windows - Danger!-Danger! - something might fall out!.  Don't trust people to be careful around edges - Danger!-Danger! - put walls up, lock people into a safety zone from which it's impossible for them to hurt themselves.  Maybe this is actually the best way... but it sure feels claustrophobic.

Also, notice all the guys with hard hats and reflective yellow stripes?  Are all those guys really necessary to watch over the partially installed barriers?  Is it really possible that some idiot is going to see an open gate and think "Gee!  An open gate!  It must be safe to step down onto the track in front of a speeding train!"?  I hope nobody on this entire planet is that stupid, but I guess you never know.  Better safe than sorry.

So - safety is good, but it's a sad day for photographers.

恵比寿駅の新しいホームバリヤー、安全はいいですが、写真にとっては、災厄です  東京


"Ebisu - Ticket Gates to Import Store" (100511Tu-1218)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2A4BLqgyOU

Walking from the upper level ticket gates at Ebisu Station to a nearby import shop that has a number of interesting things - in spite of the limited amount of space they have.

恵比寿駅改札口から輸入の店まで  東京


"Ebisu Station - JR to Hibiya Line" (100511Tu-1224)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1tcZUZ2lKA

Walking from near the upper level JR ticket gates to the Hibiya subway line ticket gates.  More construction - this time for the Hibiya Line Ebisu Station.  It looks as though they are in the process of installing escalators.

One thing that occurs to me is that the level of motorized mechanization requiring maintenance and electrical power is vastly more than just a couple of decades ago.  Will this negatively impact the reliability of the system?

恵比寿駅JR改札口の近くから、日比谷線地下鉄の改札口まで  東京


"Ebisu Hibiya Ticket Gates to Platform" (100511Tu-1226)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXe2RhV0jPw

Passing through the ticket gates of the Hibiya (subway) Line in Ebisu, and then walking down to the platform to wait for the next train.

恵比寿駅日比谷線改札口から、日比谷線地下鉄のホームまで  東京


"Waiting for Hibiya Line at Ebisu" (100511Tu-1227)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2ohKbggcZc

Waiting for the next Hibiya (subway) Line train to arrive at Ebisu Station.

恵比寿駅日比谷線地下鉄のホームで電車来るのを待っている  東京


"Hibiya Line - Ebisu to Hiro" (100511Tu_1231)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y4w_cUAYA0

Riding the Hibiya Subway Line - looking out the front cab as the train runs from Ebisu to Hiro.

Since some of the Hibiya subway trains seamlessly connect with Tobu Line rails (there is more than one Tobu Line), some of the Tobu Line trains (like the one in this video) are run in the subway tunnels (and some of the subway trains are run on the Tobu rails).

日比谷線地下鉄 - 恵比寿駅から広尾駅までの運転手ビュー  東京


"Hibiya Line - Hiro to Roppongi" (100511Tu-1234)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b4FVO0r9Hk

Riding the Hibiya Subway Line - looking out the front cab as the train runs from Hiro to Roppongi.

日比谷線地下鉄 - 広尾駅から六本木駅までの運転手ビュー  東京


"Hibiya Line - Kamiyacho to Kasumigaseki" (100511Tu-1240)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S8-2NnNnXA

Riding the Hibiya Subway Line - looking out the front cab as the train runs from Kamiyacho to Kasumigaseki.

日比谷線地下鉄 - 神谷町駅から霞ヶ関駅までの運転手ビュー  東京


"Hibiya Line - Hibiya to Ginza" (100511Tu-1245)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugS0Drary4w

Riding the Hibiya Subway Line - looking out the front cab as the train runs from Hibiya to Ginza.

日比谷線地下鉄 - 日比谷駅から銀座駅までの運転手ビュー  東京


"Hibiya Line - Ginza to Higashi-Ginza" (100511Tu-1247)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFh1Ye2lV3c

Riding the Hibiya Subway Line - looking out the front cab as the train runs from Ginza to Higashi-Ginza, and then getting off at HIgashi-Ginza and watching the train continue on into the tunnel.

日比谷線地下鉄 - 銀座駅から東銀座駅までの運転手ビューと、東銀座駅のプラットホーム風景  東京

Lyle


2010/05/15

"Akishima, Aisle Cruising, Kodaira, Shinjuku - Late Spring Views"

Starting with a look at the upper level of Akishima Station, and then doing a 360-degree look around while standing at the front end of the outbound platform (actually, there's only one platform, with outbound trains on one side and inbound trains on the other, but from the standpoint of outbound trains, I was at the front), and then watching an outbound train leave Akishima Station.

After that is a cruise through several aisles in a popular discount store in Tokyo.  It's an intriguing store.  The feeling is sort of like going up into the attic of a house where the owner stores an amazing amount of stuff.  You look around with a background expectation of finding something interesting.  Incidentally, the last time I went to this store, one section of the store had several high-frequency pulsating noises... something I have never heard before in my life.  I ended up wondering if it was something along the lines of anti-loitering sounds that I hear are being used in the UK?

Then I jump over to Shinjuku and show a couple of Shinjuku Station scenes, one with an announcement about a "jinshin-jiko" (passenger action) that has delayed some trains, and the other showing a Yamanote Line train come in, that I then board.

And it wraps up with a view of a Shinjuku street band and a view of trains and commuters out in the burbs.

"Akishima Station - Upper Level" (100501Sa-1409)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r0YEUlO0ic

Looking around on the upper level of Akishima Station, and then going through the ticket gates and heading for the stairs leading down to the platform.

昭島駅二階と改札口  東京


"Akishima Station - Watching Outbound Train Depart" (100501Sa-1419)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNFoOka0qas

While waiting at the front end of a platform for an outbound Ome Line train to depart from Akishima Station, I have a 360-degree look around, and then watch the train as it departs and disappears down the tracks.

昭島駅ホームの下り方向から青梅線の電車出発を見る  東京


"Kodaira Chuo Park - March 3rd, 2010" (100503Mo-1357)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBIdAl_GTCI

A late spring day in Kodaira Chuo Park.  Notice the man playing some kind of drum, while something (unrelated I think) is going on in the background on the soccer grounds.

小平中央公園、平成二十二年五月三日  東京


"Aisle Cruising in a Tokyo Discount Store" (100508Sa-1253)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_oDxOde1fc

Cruising through the aisles at a discount store in Tokyo that maximizes floor space by utilizing narrow passageways and loading a lot of merchandise onto the shelves.

東京ディスカウント店の通路クルージング  東京


"Tree Grove in Kodaira Chuo Park" (100509Su-1253)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxjN5G64E8w

Walking through a grove of trees towards a group of people (adults and children) enjoying a Sunday in the park.

小平中央公園の林人々  東京


"Shinjuku Station Jinshin-Jiko Announcement Etc." (100511Tu-1205)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu_4ZzEMGcA

Walking past the bookstore on the upper level at Shinjuku Station, then down the stairs to the counter-clockwise Yamanote Line platform while listening to an announcement about delays due to a passenger-action (jinshin-jiko)

新宿駅内本屋や山手線ホーム、など  東京


"Boarding Yamanote Line at Shinjuku Station" (100511Tu-1206)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhnuw8FsQYQ

Standing on the platform at Shinjuku Station and watching a Yamanote Line train arrive - and then climbing aboard (after waiting for those getting off).

I've always taken this sort of scene for granted, but they're currently putting up barriers (with doors) along the edge of the Yamanote Line platforms, so the trains will be half-hidden by the walls when they come in.  Considering how crowded the platforms can get, it's a great idea for safety, but - visually speaking - the platform edge barriers are hideously ugly.  Good-bye decent pictures from the platforms....

新宿駅で内回りの山手線を乗る  東京


"Sasurai-Meika, Live in Rainy Shinjuku" (100511Tu-2202)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anShk_wijUU

Especially considering they had electric amplifiers, I was surprised to see this band playing live outside in the rain!  They were under the overhang from the Keio Department Store, so they weren't completely exposed, but the ground they were standing on was wet and it was windy....

サスライメイカーストリートバンド、新宿でライブ  東京


"Late Night Burbs Station" (100511Tu-2259)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPesX7KuzeI

Looking around at Higashi-Murayama Station as a late night train comes in and outward-bound commuters get off.

夜遅く東村山駅の様子  東京

Lyle


2010/05/09

"1990 Japanese Baseball Game and 2010 Discount Store Aisle Navigation"

On August 22nd, 1990, I went to Harajuku, and from there walked off in search of things to videotape.  When I came to the Jingu baseball stadium, I noticed people going in to see a game, so I decided - on the spur of the moment - to buy a ticket and go in myself.  The game was between the Chunichi Dragons and the Yakult Swallows.  The first two videos below are an edited version of the footage I took while enjoying the game.

Watching the spectators cheering on their favored team was - in a way - more interesting than the game itself.  That's not to say the game wasn't interesting - it was a great game, with several home runs, a tied score, etc., which fueled the passion of the spectators.

In the second clip, I was amused at the time, and again while editing/watching the material after two decades had passed, to see how the winning Dragon's fans resisted leaving even while a bullhorn-equipped security man walked among them electronically yelling at them to hurry up and leave the stadium.  As we were leaving, the security guy even walked into the restroom with the bullhorn, verbally blasting away all the while!

The last clip is of a walk through the aisles of a discount store here in Tokyo.  A Facebook acquaintance who posted a photo of a narrow aisle in a store in the US didn't believe me when I said the narrow aisle reminded me of some of the stores I shop at here.  The Facebook acquaintance responded with a "Ha-ha, I went to many shops in fashionable places in Tokyo and saw no such thing" response....

I hate being called a liar when I know what I'm talking about - especially when the person calling me a liar doesn't know what they're talking about!  This thing where a foreigner visits Japan, spends a week or two here, sees a few things, and then thinks they know the city better than anyone, including the city's residents, is profoundly irritating.  I call it "gaijin disease" (hereafter referred to as GD).  So - I went to a discount store, walked around in the aisles recording video of the fact that the aisles are narrower than the posted picture of the aisle in the US store, and posted the proof that I wasn't making things up.  As I half-expected, the Facebook acquaintance didn't admit their error, or apologize for insinuating that I was lying.

Oh well.  Anyway - aside from that ridiculous/pathetic background to the video, I had been wanting to take some video of store aisles like that anyway, so I guess I should thank my Facebook acquaintance with GD, and in the future just let them stay ignorant about Japan, since they apparently don't want to know the truth.


"Japanese Baseball - Dragons Vs. Swallows (August 22nd, 1990)-A"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH13cpKavgc

The first half of a two-video set showing the atmosphere at a fairly exciting baseball game between the Chunichi Dragons and the Yakult Swallows.  The competition between cheering sections of the spectators was as interesting as the game itself.

(Since I was sitting with the spectators and not with the baseball teams, the spectators are highlighted in the video.)

1990年8月22日水曜日 - 神宮スタジアムでの野球、中日ドラゴンズ vs. ヤクルトスワローズ (A)  東京


"Japanese Baseball - Dragons Vs. Swallows (August 22nd, 1990)-B"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8CROFazL7E

The second half of a two-video set showing the atmosphere at a fairly exciting baseball game between the Chunichi Dragons and the Yakult Swallows.


"Discount Shop Aisle Navigation in Tokyo"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0E_gVnRgJg

Navigating the aisles in a discount store in Tokyo.  Naturally, not all stores in Tokyo have aisles this narrow, but this is not unusual in shops with limited floor space that want to have a lot of merchandise on display.

Lyle


2010/05/07

"Park in Akishima, Shinkansen Library, Mori Town Mall, and Akishima Station"

Starting with a view of a park in Akishima, and then views of walking up to, and into a first generation Shinkansen, including views in the cab.  The cab car has been converted into a library, but still has some of the original Shinkansen seats in it.  After looking around in the Shinkansen Library, I walk to Akishima Station, stopping for a quick look at Mori Town Mall on the way.

"A Nice Day in an Akishima Park" (100501Sa-1231)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W46HbsOUsRA

Sitting on a park bench relaxing while waiting for the library to open.  (Not just any ordinary library either!  For an explanation of that, see the next video!)

It isn't often that I get to sit down and relax outside like that, particularly when the temperature is perfect and it's a nice day with a light breeze.  Not exactly "Stop and smell the roses", but "Stop and notice the blue of the sky..." - which is not something to take for granted when living in a mega-city.

素晴らしい天気の日に公園にのんびりして  東京


"Entering Shinkansen Library" (100501Sa-1239)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JqqfzSkPls

I stumbled upon this Shinkansen cab (lead/training) car by looking over and suddenly seeing it.  "Whoa!  What?...!?" thought I, as I walked over for a closer look.  There's something striking about the first generation of Shinkansen trains - I think this first version is - in a way - the best looking design of all of the Shinkansen trains, even though I like some of the newer ones a lot, but in a different way.

This particular one is being used as a library!  I was hoping to get the interior in this one clip, but I was stopped and asked to take my shoes off as I came in.  (You don't generally have to remove your shoes when entering libraries, but this one is primarily a children's library, and libraries do typically have no-shoes sections for young children.)

昭島新幹線図書館 - これは、本当に素晴らしい考え！  東京


"Shinkansen Library Walk-Through" (100501Sa-1241)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fosh2tC6ToQ

Walking through a first-generation Shinkansen cab (lead/trailing) car that has been converted into a library.  Adults can order books and then pick them up from the desk at the other end (see previous video: "Entering Shinkansen Library") when they arrive, but mainly this is a children's library (since storage space is limited).

Leaving some of the seats in was a nice touch - as it retains the feeling of a train, and the seats are comfortable places to sit and read a book as well.

In the next video ["1st Generation Shinkansen Cab View (Library)"] I have a look in the cab.

昭島新幹線図書館 - 元の席が半分残っている  東京


"1st Generation Shinkansen Cab View (Library)" (100501Sa-1248)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pYlMOJpPMU

A look around in the cab of a first-generation Shinkansen cab car that has been converted into a library, but still has several of it's original seats.  For the structure, this is the coolest library I've ever been in!

It's primarily a children's library, but adults can order books and pick them up at the desk in the back of the train car (which is the front of the library), where the checkout desk is.

昭島新幹線図書館 - 運転席の立場からの眺め  東京


"Shinkansen Library - From Cab Section to Books" (100501Sa-1305)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95e2hsmjaLs

Starting with a last look around the cab, and then going into the book section of the train... um... library.

昭島新幹線図書館 - 運転席から、本棚まで  東京


"Library Shinkansen - From Book Section To Original Seats" (100501Sa-1306)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Gy3GuzlRIY

Going from the bookshelf section to the original Shinkansen seats.  This is a great idea!  The seats are comfortable, so are a good place to sit and read a book.

昭島新幹線図書館 - 本棚から、オリジナル席まで  東京


"Tsutsujigaoka Shopping Plaza, Akishima" (100501Sa-1321)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UILOWPspUN8

Walking into a shopping area integrated into an apartment building.  This would have been built before the large grocery store I visited earlier in the day.  With a proliferation of large discount stores being built in Japan, small shops have been going out of business, leaving areas like this with more closed shops than open.

つつじが丘ショッピングプラザー、昭島市  東京


"Brief Look in Mori Town Mall" (100501Sa-1344)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ega_yt4QPu4

A quick glance inside the first floor of Mori Town Mall.

I would have walked further into this, but since the air was so nice outside, and kind of stale inside, I wanted to get back outside sooner rather than later, and did a quick U-turn.

森タウンモールの一目  東京


"Approaching Akishima Station" (100501Sa-1350)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fSJRGh_vrk

Walking towards Akishima Station and then turning left and walking into the outside part of Mori Town Mall for a quick look.

昭島駅に近づく、森タウンモールの外部を一目  東京


"Exiting Mori Town Mall Near Akishima Station" (100501Sa-1403)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXkCwD-656I

After a last look at the outside part of Mori Town Mall, I walk out of it and head towards Akishima Station.

森タウンモールの外部を出て、昭島駅に向かう  東京

Lyle


2010/05/06

"Tamagawa Josui, Kodaira Chuo Park, Ome Line, and Akishima"

Starting with a look at the Tamagawa Josui Canal in it's newfound green after the winter.  (Over the summer, the green turns darker.)  Then having a look at a section of Kodaira's Chuo Park that is under threat from a planned (and opposed) road project.  Hopefully they won't destroy Kodaira Chuo Koen, as they are planning to do.

After that, a trip on the Ome Line out to Akishima, where I walk around for a bit - visiting a large grocery store.

"Springtime Tamagawa Josui Canal" (100430Fr-1444)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpKXnSrdLzc

The springtime green of the old Tamagawa Josui Canal.  The green belt along the canal is popular for joggers and strollers.

春の玉川上水  東京


"Kodaira Chuo Park - Threatened Section" (100430Fr-1505)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlLb4bEnUcE

This wooded section of Kodaira's Chuo Park is slated for destruction in order to lay down a hideous four-lane asphalt road, which - beyond the loss of these trees - would ruin the rest of the park as well, since it would be subjected to constant diesel engine truck vibration, noise, and noxious gases.

To city planners:  If you don't have the money to put the road in a tunnel under the park, then don't build the bloody thing!  Protecting a popular park is more important than building yet more lifeless habitat for internal combustion engines.  How much of Tokyo has to be ruined for living people - all in the interest of convenience for noxious gas-producing machinery?

小平中央公園の林 - この林はアスファルトに遣られる予定がある...  東京


"Inbound Ome Line Train Arrives at Nishi-Tachikawa Station" (100501Sa-0857)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVBkXgbiHoU

An inbound Ome Line train arrives at Nishi-Tachikawa Station.

Nishi-Tachikawa Station is the nearest station to Showa Kinen Park, which was built on the land formerly occupied by Tachikawa Air Base.

Open-air platforms like the one in this video are rather unusual now in Tokyo, but this station is primarily used by people going to the park in fair weather, and not by daily commuters, so there's no real need to cover the whole platform (there's a covered section by the stairs after all).

上り青梅線電車が西立川駅に到着  東京


"Nishi-Tachikawa to Higashi-Nakagami" (100501Sa-0903)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g56Vi74QMcM

Looking at the scenery out a right-side window of an Ome Line train between Nishi-Tachikawa and Higashi-Nakagami stations.

青梅線で西立川駅から東中神駅まで (右側の窓の風景)  東京


"Higashi-Nakagami to Nakagami" (100501Sa-0905)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfcwVIZ1i6s

Looking at the scenery out a right-side window of an Ome Line train between Higashi-Nakagami and Nakagami stations.

青梅線で東中神駅から中神駅まで (右側の窓の風景)  東京


"Nakagami to Akishima" (100501Sa-0906)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2xhfduyYIA

Looking at the scenery out a right-side window of an Ome Line train between Nakagami and Akishima stations.

青梅線で中神駅から昭島駅まで (右側の窓の風景)  東京


"Exiting Akishima Station" (100501Sa-0908)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbTb6jDQNf8

Exiting Akishima Station - going through the ticket gates and walking over to the stairs leading down to the street.

I was asked before about the ticket gates appearing to always be open - notice the man who had to turn back when the machine refused his ticket.  If you freeze-frame the image at the right spot, you can see the closed gates and also how a large round red light illuminates at the same time the gate makes an error "bing-bong" noise.

昭島駅の中 - 改札口を通る  東京


"Walking in Suburbia in Western Tokyo" (100501Sa-0911)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXtg9OqJbL8

Walking down the street that runs (almost) in front of Akishima Station - with Mori Town Mall on the right.

昭島駅の近くの道路に歩きながら  東京


"Large Grocery Store Near Akishima Station" (100501Sa-1108)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JWgPWRkzoA

Walking around in a large grocery store not far from Akishima Station, listening to rather irritating music being broadcast on the store's PA.

Maybe I'm too used to shopping in smaller shops, but I couldn't help looking up and wondering what the advantage was of having the ceiling up that high.  I suppose the space is probably cooler in the summer thanks to that, but isn't it then also colder in the winter?  Maybe it's done for psychological reasons?  How does this look to people living outside Japan?  Just normal?  If so, I really have gotten used to smaller shops....

昭島駅の近くにある大きいスーパーの中に散歩  東京


"Produce Section of Large Grocery Store in Western Tokyo" (100501Sa-1115)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQUpDps1eXg

Looking around in the produce section of a large grocery store in western Tokyo.  The way the shop-keepers are calling out is traditional, but the feeling in the store is something else....

昭島駅の近くにある大きいスーパーの中の野菜や果物  東京

Lyle


2010/05/05

"Late Night Burbs, Tachikawa Station, and Yurakucho"

Starting with a view of a late-night, nearly empty station out in suburbia, and then jumping to another day in Tachikawa, making my way through a crowd of people exiting the station while I'm entering it.  After that, a view of the long escalator at Tokyo Station, and platform views at Yurakucho Station.

"Late Night Nearly Empty Burbs Station" (100409-2320)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh86edMknL0

Late night at a nearly empty station out in a Tokyo suburb - conditions are not always crowded everywhere, all the time!

東京の西で夜遅く西武鉄道の駅  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 11:20 p.m.)


"Tachikawa Station Ticket Gates - April 28th, 2010" (100428-1036)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txmk1_D_g7s

Walking through a crowd exiting one of the ticket gates at Tachikawa Station, and then going through the gates myself and heading for the Chuo Line.

立川駅改札口と駅の中  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 10:36 a.m.)


"Tokyo Station Long Escalator Decent" (100428-1117)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M9R2sVHayU

Walking from the high elevated Chuo Line platform down to the under-tracks transfer area - walking down the long escalator to get there.

東京駅の長いエスカレーターを下りる  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 11:17 a.m.)


"Tokyo Station - Waiting for Next Yamanote Train" (100428-1120)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdYJZHNpgBg

Waiting for the next Yamanote Line train at Tokyo Station.

The reason I didn't take the Keihin-Tohoku Line train that came, was because at this time of day (11:20 a.m.), the Keihin-Tohoku Line doesn't stop at Yurakucho, which was my destination.

東京駅で次の山手線電車を待っている  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 11:20 a.m.)


"Yurakucho Izakaya Night" (100428-1957)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuNjuF8EHwY

Now that spring is completely here (and it's beginning to get hot even), the cold windy evenings of rushing for home are past (for now) and people are wandering around a bit more in typical Tokyo evening fashion.

有楽町居酒屋夜 - 春が完全に来ました！  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 7:57 p.m.)


"Keihin-Tohoku Train Arriving at Yurakucho Station" (100428-2205)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4NvuP-hdP0

Watching a Keihin-Tohoku Line train arrive at Yurakucho Station.  (During the day, the Keihin-Tohoku Line trains don't stop here, but at this time of night, they do.)

京浜東北線が有楽町駅に到着  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 10:05 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/05/04

"Views from Ginza and Yurakucho - April 28th, 2010"

Starting with views from a nearly empty Yurakucho Station just before lunch, and then some views from Ginza, including a look in an old building (of which there are very few left in Ginza) and then views of the walk back towards Yurakucho Station in the evening.

"Arriving at Yurakucho Station on Yamanote Line" (100428-1125)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67sUOBBYDWw

Riding the Yamanote Line into Yurakucho - looking out a left-side window at a passing Shinkansen just before pulling into Yurakucho station, and then getting off and experiencing the usual station scenes and sounds just before lunch.

山手線で有楽町駅に到着  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 11:25 a.m.)


"Yurakucho Station Pre-Lunchtime Views" (100428-1127)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrtj9MvbYZE

Looking around at passing trains and people on a nearly empty Yurakucho Station platform just before lunch.

有楽町駅の昼前風景  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 11:27 a.m.)


"Old Building in Ginza" (100428-1556)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzQYVAcUKtU

A look around the stairwell area of an old building in Ginza.  Old buildings like this have vastly more character than new sealed boxes.

The thing that ruins new buildings is that they don't have proper air circulation!  They have air systems that look good on the drawing board, but in practice, building managers set them to a very high percentage of recirculated air for cost reasons (stale warm or cool air is cheaper to heat or chill than new outside air), and the air ducts get dirty over time.

In an old building, you can open a window and get some air, but in sealed-box buildings, you're just stuck with the toxic recirculated stuff - just like a goldfish in a dirty bowl.

銀座にある古い建物  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 3:56 p.m.)


"Sparkling Empty Mall" (100428-1639)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHOzeloz3uM

I strolled into a new building that has several separate shops inside - basically a mall - and got the usual claustrophobic feeling from the sealed box atmosphere and lack of windows, so I did a U-turn to get back out to the street, with its air and sunlight.

The thing is - the building *looks* very nice inside, but it's the type of space I'd only want to spend time in at night when there's a raging storm outside.  On a nice day, it feels stuffy inside.

ピカピカ (ほとんど) 空っぽ銀座ショッピングモール  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 4:39 p.m.)


"Ginza Show Window Reflections" (100428-1720)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaT_6nPGkps

Looking through the corner of a glass showcase at the corner of Ginza 4-chome on the opposite side of the block from the Ginza 4-chome intersection (which is between Ginza 4-chome and Ginza 5-chome - maybe they named it after 4-chome due to the clock tower building and the Mitsukoshi Department Store, which are both in 4-chome?).

銀座ショーウインドーの複雑な光  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 5:20 p.m.)


"Ginza Alley Noises" (100428-1728)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvTL_cZI3sk

A shockingly boring video - I took it mainly to record the electric motor (exhaust fans?) noise in the alley, which conveys a certain atmosphere if you've been here long enough.

銀座裏道の音  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 5:28 p.m.)


"Ginza 4-Chome - 5:52 p.m." (100428-1752)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO29rFYwy1k

Walking across a sidewalk at Ginza 4-chome - on my way to the Kabuki Theater to see the scene there, since this was the final day for public performances in that structure before they tear the building down (I've posted a few videos about that scene separately - note the recording times).

銀座４丁目の夕方人々  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 5:52 p.m.)


"Intersection by Ginza Sony Building" (100428-1929)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUbziT8UpOM

Walking up to the intersection where the Ginza Sony Building is (across the street from it though), and looking around.

夜の銀座ソニービルの近く  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 7:29 p.m.)


"Walking Towards Yurakucho Station" (100428-1930)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln20lQC_Ybc

Past the Sony Building intersection, walking towards Yurakucho Station - on a typical Tokyo evening.

歩いて、有楽町駅に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.)


"Passing Shinkansen Trains - Walking Under Tracks" (100428-1931)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayso8_LmdxM

As I approach the elevated rails, an outbound Shinkansen train goes by (with an inbound Shinkansen moving very slowly - possibly waiting for an open slot at Tokyo Station to pull into), and then I walk under the elevated tracks, going past a few izakaya places.

歩きながら、有楽町駅に向かって新幹線が通る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 7:31 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/05/03a

"Sayonara Yutori (Relaxed) Education...?"

When I came to Japan in 1984, it wasn't long before I began hearing stories of trouble in schools, with more students exhibiting destructive behavior from around middle school.  The general consensus seemed to be that students were spending all their time studying in high-pressure environments and it was leading to bullying and other problems.

At the time, schooling at both pubic and private schools was from Monday through Saturday (as was the standard office workweek), and then around 1985 or 1986, I began meeting people whose office hours had been cut back to a half-day on Saturday or to five days a week.  The public school week was cut (over a period of a few years) from every Saturday to two Saturdays a week to a five-day school week with all Saturdays off.

Another component to this was the perception that Japan had excelled at taking technology invented elsewhere and improving on it, but wasn't a leading innovator.  It was thought that giving students more free time, along with lessing the traditional pressures towards conformity, would get students away from rote learning for tests and would foster greater creativity.

From the young artists I've been meeting over the past couple of years, I think they were successful in this (regarding art in any case - I don't know how how innovation within companies is going), but there is now more concern over falling test scores than there is over creativity, and things are heading back towards the old way, with the amount of things being studied (and homework), going up.

Navigation is a tricky business - when you realize you've gone too far in one direction, you have to steer back on course, dialing in some extra rudder to make up for being off course, and then - typically - going too far in the other direction, necessitating reverse correction.  How to just stay on course?  I want to believe it's possible, but practically, it seems to be nearly impossible.

Lyle


2010/05/01

"Rainy Day in Ginza, Shinjuku Night Scenes, Etc."

Starting with daytime views of walking in Ginza in a light rain - continuing with train and station scenes in Yurakucho, Tokyo, and Shinjuku, plus some walking views in Shinjuku and a look out a window of a late night train while listening to wheel thump-thump-thump noises caused by... bad wheel bearings?

"Ginza Side Street in Rain" (100427-1351)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9k16WAxIcE

Walking down a Ginza side street in a light rain.  (Later in the evening, this street would have more people walking around.)

雨中の銀座裏道  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 1:51 p.m.)


"Ginza - Walking Along Chuo Dori in Light Rain" (100427-1357)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CadnoUNLZDw

Walking along one of Ginza's main streets - Chuo Dori - in a light rain.

I used to enjoy this street more, but recently it has mainly huge fortress-like buildings with "brand" stuff that I never, ever-ever-ever buy or even look at.  Fortunately, there are still some interesting things on Ginza's back streets.

雨中の銀座中央通り  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 1:57 p.m.)


"Ginza - Still on Chuo Dori" (100427-1359)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnBk4Csom_A

Not much to say - just walking down the main street.  The feeling I always have when on this street is something like this: "Well - here I am in Ginza... just a little further down and I can get off of this boring main street, away from the fire-breathing machinery, and onto the interesting side streets..."

雨中の銀座中央通り(2)  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 1:59 p.m.)


"Approaching Yurakucho Station In Twilight" (100427-1821)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhBtq_3TB6Y

Walking along near the overhead railways - approaching the entrance to Yurakucho Station.

夕方に有楽町駅に近くなる  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 6:21 p.m.)


"Tokyo Station - Exiting Keihin-Tohoku Line" (100427-1827)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcSr4sMw8qU

Getting off of a Keihin-Tohoku Line train and then walking along the platform to the stairs (that lead down to the transfer passageways beneath the tracks).

東京駅で京浜東北線から降りてホームに歩く  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 6:27 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Platform Walk - April 27th, 2010" (100427-1844)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Qiz4gsr9o

Walking down the Chuo Line outbound platform during the evening rush.

The interesting thing about walking in these conditions is that the need for constant navigational input keeps you from getting bored, and it seems exciting and interesting, since... you don't have time to think?

新宿駅の中央線下りホームの散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 6:44 p.m.)


"Exiting Shinjuku Station via Southeast Exit" (100427-1846)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnH3EBDxD7o

Walking towards and then through the Southeast Exit of Shinjuku Station.  Shinjuku Station has a large number of exits, so it pays to be very careful about which one you use if you're pressed for time!

東南出口を使って、新宿駅を出ます  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 6:46 p.m.)


"Omoide-Yokocho - Street-side and Inside View" (100427-2151)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXMg5jYvinw

Starting on the street side of Omoide-Yokocho, and then diving into the pedestrian only path that leads into the center of it.

新宿の思い出横丁、道側と内側  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 9:51 p.m.)


"Shinjuku - Walking Under JR Railway Bridge at Night" (100427-2153)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjpSVat-2Vg

Walking under a JR railway bridge just before 10:00 p.m. - with the noise of a train passing overhead as I am about to come out from under the bridge and back into a light rain.

新宿JRの鉄道橋の下に歩く  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 9:53 p.m.)


"Train Window Night View - Worn Wheel Bearings?" (100427-2238)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4sIRybrp7k

Looking out the window of a late-night train - listening to a thump-thump-thump noise as the train changes speed.  This is much less common now than before, but still you hear it from time to time - caused by bad wheel bearings maybe?

カタンカタンの音をしながら電車の夜窓ビュー  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010, at 10:38 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/29

"Ginza Kabukiza Theater - Final Day Open to the Public"

I was in Ginza yesterday when a friend called and told me that the Kabukiza Theater was giving it's final public performances that day, and would be torn down after that, so I walked over and took some video of the event.  Apparently they will be putting up a new high-rise building on the land the current Kabukiza building sits on, and incorporating a new Kabuki theater within the new building.

"Approaching Ginza Kabuki Theater" (100428-1754)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sGWluVLf2Q

Walking from central Ginza out to the Kabuki Theater (Kabukiza) on the edge of Ginza - near Tsukiji.  Notice all the people wearing kimonos - there are not usually so many, but Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 was the final night for public performances at the Kabukiza (there will be some special performances for another couple of days I hear), and many people dressed up for a final visit before they tear the building down.  (They're planning to put yet another high-rise building there, which will incorporate a new Kabukiza in the building.)  Apparently the current building was built in 1952.

銀座の歌舞伎座に近くなる  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 5:54 p.m.)


"Kabukiza Final Public Performance Day Queue" (100428-1757)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIcDdTkpLDw

Walking by a line of people waiting to go in for one of the final public performances at the Kabuki Theater before they tear the building down.

銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日の列  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 5:57 p.m.)


"Crowds in Front of Ginza Kabuki Theater - April 28th, 2010" (100428-1800)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBinWwnN_S0

Crowds of people milling about in front of the Ginza Kabuki theater taking pictures of the building - since it will be torn down soon, and Wednesday, April 28th, was the final day for public performances.  (The police officer is asking/telling people not to block the sidewalk.)

銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日の人々が写真を撮る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:00 p.m.)


"Kabukiza Entrance Just Before Performance on April 28th, 2010" (100428-1806)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH6a4YZyVwk

The scene in front of the Kabukiza Theater in Ginza, with many people milling about in front; people getting tickets from a ticket window; and people going in for a performance - many wearing kimonos.

銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日  着物姿の人々が建物に入ったり  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:06 p.m.)


"Kabukiza - From Front to Sidewalk on April 28th, 2010" (100428-1810)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrcPHveUYRE

Looking around while walking from close to the front of the Kabukiza building, on out to the sidewalk - taking a look back at the building from there.

銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日  あっちこっちの人々  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:10 p.m.)


"Chestnut Vendor in Front of Kabukiza - April 28th, 2010" (100428-1834)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPaWLrqOKzw

Looking up at the illuminated Kabukiza building, and then over at a man selling roasted chestnuts by the sidewalk.

(I don't know if these were typically sold to people going to Kabuki shows, or if it was just a coincidence....)

銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日  建物と栗販売人  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:34 p.m.)


"Kabukiza Theater - Last Look on April 28th, 2010" (100428-1835)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXqk1Kt2GQM

Taking one last look at the Kabukiza before going home.  The people sitting next to the building are (I think) waiting for the next show.  A couple of them looked a bit forlorn - I've heard that some people will travel into Tokyo once a month (from far off cities even) to see Kabuki, so I can imagine they're none too happy about the plan to tear that building down.  (The show will continue in another location, but the atmosphere and half-century history-radiation factor of this building will be destroyed with the loss of the building.)

銀座歌舞伎座の最後の普通日  帰る前、最後に見る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010, at 6:35 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/24b

"Trains Trains... Seibu, Tozai, Ginza, Yamanote, and Chuo Lines"

With the exception of the one-day cool exhibition in the Okuno Building by Matsumoto Akinori (see: "Matsumoto Akinori Sound Scenes at Okuno Building"), this batch of ten video clips are all centered around trains and train stations.  First the Seibu-Haijima Line, then the Seibu-Shinjuku Line, the Tozai Line, the Ginza Line, the Yamanote Line, and finally the Chuo Line.  All part of the usual Tokyo lifestyle - going about here and there via one train after another.

"Boarding Seibu Haijima Line at Ogawa" (100420-1242)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBr98sXPmhM

Watching a Seibu-Haijima Line train arrive at Ogawa Station, getting on and then walking through the train towards the front.

小川駅で西武拝島線の電車が遣って来ます  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 12:42 p.m.)


"Wide Window View - Ogawa to Hagiyama" (100420-1243)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SNUUL5HBnc

Ogawa Station to Hagiyama Station.  Looking out the front cab of a newer type (but not the newest) Seibu Haijima Line train with a wide window and no metal structures in the middle interfering with the view.

小川駅から萩山駅まで、前の広い窓風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 12:43 p.m.)


"Wide Window View - Hagiyama to Kodaira" (100420-1246)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOtjXAKZ4S8

Hagiyama Station to Kodaira Station.  Looking out the front cab of a newer type (but not the newest) Seibu Haijima Line train with a wide window and no metal structures in the middle interfering with the view.  Taken in early spring - the trees are just turning green.

萩山駅から小平駅まで、前の広い窓風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 12:46 p.m.)


"Manual Controls - Watching Seibu Train Driver" (100420-1319)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSZeu1sSlNw

Watching the driver run a Seibu Line train from Seibu-Shinjuku to Takadanobaba with manual controls - with separate levers for acceleration and braking.

西武線の手動電車の運転手を見ながら西武新宿駅から高田馬場駅まてに行く  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 1:19 p.m.)


"Red-Stripe Tozai Line Train Arrives at Takadanobaba" (100420-1326)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgZuJ8sOvjs

Watching a red-stripe Tozai Line train arrive at Takadanobaba Station and then climbing aboard.

赤いストライプ東西線の電車が高田馬場駅に遣って来ます  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 1:26 p.m.)


"Ginza Line Diagonally Arriving at Nihonbashi" (100420-1345)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-meGl8n-who

Watching a Ginza Line train arrive at Nihonbashi Station.  Notice the advertising on the side of the train.  Advertising on the side of transportation vehicles began with ads on buses, and is on trains from time to time as well.

Probably putting an ad (or ads) all over an eleven-car train (in the case of the Yamanote Line) costs vastly more than putting it (or them) on a few buses.  (There are also ad trucks that do nothing except help make traffic worse while dragging around illuminated billboards.)

銀座線の電車が日本橋駅に遣って来ます  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 1:45 p.m.)


"Matsumoto Akinori Sound Scenes at Okuno Building" (100420-1739)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t6jbzxRJbE

Matsumoto Akinori had a one-day exhibition at the Okuno Building in Ginza on April 20th, 2010.

I received the artist's permission to take this video clip, but unfortunately, as soon as I began recording, a couple of women visitors began talking, making it harder to get the effect of the different sounds created by the various objects in the room.  Different fans and motors were turned on and off, creating different combinations of... music?  It was much nicer than just noise, so I think the term "music" fits.

The visual element was also interesting - it was fun to watch the many different moving shapes and the shadows they cast on the walls.

松本秋則の奥野ビル展示会  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 5:39 p.m.)


"Yamanote Line Train Arriving at Yurakucho" (100420-1833)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s5Hs0jpIKc

Watching a Yamanote Line train arrive at 6:33 p.m. at Yurakucho Station - feeling surprisingly relaxed.  For whatever reason, the platform wasn't crowded.  Probably a combination of the system running the maximum number of trains and it being a little past the peak suburbs-bound rush, what with the bad economy having companies sending people home earlier.

有楽町駅で山手線の電車が遣って来ます  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 6:33 p.m.)


"Kanda Station - Chuo Line Platform" (100420-1839)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo2FbA-FkQ8

Looking around on the Chuo Line platform at Kanda Station.  What with all the lights, Tokyo often looks better at night than it does in the day - with lights, reflections, and a dark sky background providing a pleasing contrast with the sea of colored lights....

神田駅の中央線ホーム風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 6:39 p.m.)


"Kanda Station Chuo Line Arrival" (100420-1841)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCr7Pd4bsws

Watching a Chuo Line train arrive at Kanda Station and then climbing on - you can hear the doors-about-to-close melody at the end - just before the doors closed, when the clip ends.

神田駅で中央線の電車が遣って来ます  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, at 6:41 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/24a

"Shinobazu Entrance at Ueno Station, and Shinjuku Red Lantern Ramen"

From April 9th, 2010, in Ueno, when I went into the new Yodobashi Camera store there for the first time and looked around a bit.  Then to the Shinobazu Entrance of Ueno Station and over to Shinjuku where I walked past some of the red-lantern ramen places there.

"Ueno Yodobashi Camera 1F" (100409-2050)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9sgAKN839Q

Walking through the 1st floor of the new Yodobashi Camera discount electronics store in Ueno.

新しい上野ヨドバシカメラ, 1F散歩  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 8:50 p.m.)


"Ueno Yodobashi Camera - Brief Look at Top Floors" (100409-2125)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umtqa7d3jOs

A brief look at the top couple of floors of the new Yodobashi Camera in Ueno (showing a couple of floors and some escalator time).

新しい上野ヨドバシカメラ, 上の階散歩  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 9:25 p.m.)


"Shinobazu Entrance to Ueno Station" (100409-2132)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ2VvaUnrGY

Waiting at the large crosswalk near the Shinobazu entrance to Ueno Station (the nearest exit to Ameyoko-cho, the former black market area), and then crossing the street and entering the passageway to the station ticket gates.

アメ横丁と上野駅のしのばず口の間  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 9:32 p.m.)


"Looking Around at Ueno Shinobazu Ticket Gates" (100409-2133)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXiKxmrPiOc

Looking around at the Shinobazu entrance to Ueno Station, and then going through the ticket gates.

上野駅しのばず改札口の近く  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 9:33 p.m.)


"Boarding Yamanote Line at Ueno" (100409-2134)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-td18lkRTE

Looking around the platform at Ueno Station between a Yamanote Line train and a Keihin-Tohoku Line train, and then boarding the Yamanote Line train.

上野駅で、山手線を乗る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 9:34 p.m.)


"11-Car Lengths of Waiting People in Shinjuku" (100409-2202)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmP-wUJ68cg

Looking at one of the long platforms at Shinjuku Station, which is half-full of people waiting for a train.

新宿駅で、11車両長さのホーム  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 10:02 p.m.)


"Chuo Line Arriving at Next Platform Over" (100409-2202)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD-fxOYct0Y

Watching a Chuo Line train arrive at the next platform.  Notice how the train has cab cars in the middle - so it can be divided into two trains (one four-car and one six-car) for two different destinations further down the line.

中央線が新宿駅の隣のホームで到着  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 10:02 p.m.)


"Ramen Stand at Shinjuku Station, South Exit" (100409-2232)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsqabYLhbhc

Having a walk-by look at a red-lantern ramen stand by the south exit of Shinjuku Station.

新宿駅南口赤提灯ラーメン  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 10:32 p.m.)


"Shinjuku West Exit Odakyu Walk-By Night View" (100409-2237)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blr8XdvcB2c

Walking by Odakyu Department Store on the west side of Shinjuku Station at 10:30 p.m.  (Notice the two red-lantern ramen stands on the left that I walk by.)

新宿駅西口の小田急デパート前の散歩  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 10:37 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Station West Side - Walking North" (100409-2238)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miJL-hGD8mA

After having walked past the west side of Shinjuku Station, I keep going - walking north.

新宿駅の西口、北への散歩  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 10:38 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/18

"Off-Schedule Chuo Line (Tokyo-Shinjuku), Yoshida Chuta Live, Etc."

Getting on the train system in Yurakucho, riding to Tokyo, changing to the Chuo Line... where I discovered that the line was held up over a problem down the line.  I contemplated giving up on the Chuo Line to get to Shinjuku and taking the Yamanote Line all the way around instead (which would take twice as long as the Chuo Line's usual 15 minutes), but fortunately the Chuo Line started moving again just a few minutes after I arrived.

After riding a very crowded Chuo Line to Shinjuku, I got off and watched the platform scene for a couple of minutes - until the train got underway again (when it's this crowded, it takes a couple of minutes to unload and load).  From there it was into the usual Shinjuku crowds on foot.

"Crossing Under Tracks in Yurakucho" (100413-1744)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3DrH4nm-Hg

Walking under the tracks in Yurakucho - walking by izakaya places, and then turning right and heading towards Yurakucho Station.

有楽町の線路下を通る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 5:44 p.m.)


"Entering Yurakucho Station" (100413-1811)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaXYGsyJ_Xk

Walking across the intersection near Bic Camera and entering Yurakucho Station.

ビックカメラ前の交差点で道を渡って有楽町駅に入る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 6:11 p.m.)


"Yurakucho to Tokyo, Right Side" (100413-1812)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XydXvHaxd2Q

A right-side view from a Keihin-Tohoku Line train, beginning as it departs Yurakucho Station and ending just after I step off the train at Tokyo Station.

Midway to Tokyo Station, a Keihin-Tohoku Line train whizzes past going in the opposite direction.

夕方で有楽町駅から東京駅まで、京浜東北線の右側風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 6:12 p.m.)


"Tokyo Station Chuo Line, Off-Schedule" (100413-1819)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB8-AqiVkfU

This was slightly early in the evening - at the beginning of the evening rush, when there are a lot of trains, so usually it wouldn't have been overly crowded on the trains, but there was some sort of trouble down the line somewhere, so they had to hold the trains for a while, making it much more crowded than usual.

One major difference between now and a couple of decades ago, is that before, not as many people would have calmly waited in line for another train, but rather would have tried their hardest to get on the first available train, no matter how crowded it was.

東京駅 - 時刻表外の中央線ホーム  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 6:19 p.m.)


"Tokyo to Kanda via Chuo Line - Right Side View" (100413-1821)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDnDC9GPipc

Riding the Chuo Line from Tokyo Station to Kanda Station in the twilight of a Tuesday evening - looking out the right side at other trains passing in both directions, including a Shinkansen train.  The video ends as the doors open at Kanda Station.

The internal announcement (made by the conductor in-between stations) apologizes for the train being late - saying that it's about 15 minutes behind schedule.

中央線で、東京駅から神田駅まで  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 6:21 p.m.)


"Off-Schedule Chuo Line Unloading and Loading at Shinjuku" (100413-1838)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtnNogFXsqY

Getting off of a very crowded Chuo Line train at Shinjuku Station and then walking around on the platform until the train got underway again.

At this time of the evening, they have the maximum number of trains running, so each one isn't usually this crowded, but a problem down the line caused the line to shut down for about 15 minutes, which created the conditions shown in this video.

The trains usually run like clockwork here, but occasionally something happens that throws things off schedule.

新宿駅の時刻表外の中央線ホーム  人込みのホームの散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 6:38 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Station - Walking Through South Exit Crowds" (100413-1842)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDQWElu1Hak

Walking through the evening crowds at Shinjuku Station on both sides of the South Exit ticket gates.

新宿駅の南改札口の人込み  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 6:42 p.m.)


"Shinjuku - Walking Down South Exit Hill" (100413-1846)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTeXpjRJjDc

Walking down the hill from the South Exit of Shinjuku Station - approaching the first intersection (which leads into Nishi-Shinjuku, 1-chome).

新宿駅の南口から坂を下りる夜散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 6:46 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Station - West Side Outside Walk" (100413-2150)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgmoksyuny8

Walking along the wide sidewalk beside the west side of Shinjuku Station, going past a street performer, food stalls, etc.  (It's hard to see, but there is even a fortune teller who set up shop on the far right of the picture - against the building there - towards the end of the clip.)

新宿駅の西側夜散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 9:50 p.m.)


"M - Yoshida Chuta Live in Shinjuku" (100413-2156)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBLT6CZfzNQ

Yoshida Chuta and the plaza near Seibu-Shinjuku Station.  I stumbled upon Yoshida Chuta playing his guitar near Seibu-Shinjuku Station.  He sounded pretty good, although there was interference from playback of some recorded material not far off (from the new electronics store across the street?).

Yoshida Chuta's website is:
http://do-do-chuta.com/

新宿で吉田忠太ライブギター  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 9:56 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/18

"Seibu, Tozai and Ginza Lines + Ginza and Yurakucho Walks"

Scenes from three train lines - the Seibu, Tozai, and Ginza lines.  Some walking scenes in Ginza and... that's about it for this batch.  For details on the individual clips, see comments below.R

"Half-Fallen Sakura Petals in Park" (100413-1204)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abxIf5RtHdk

Walking down a road in a park in which half the flower petals from the overhead sakura trees have fallen.  At this point, the trees aren't looking as good as they did just a day or two before.  When they look like this, the sakura viewing season is pretty much over.

桜の花が半分落ちている  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:04 p.m.)


"Seibu-Haijima Train Arriving at Ogawa" (100413-1212)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=888YtAMPiaY

Watching an inbound afternoon Seibu-Haijima Line train arrive at Ogawa Station.

西武拝島線の電車が小川駅に到着  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:12 p.m.)


"Seibu Takadanobaba Platform and Escalator" (100413-1243)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2kHJLbgHLA

Walking to the down escalator at Seibu-Takadanobaba Station as a Seibu-Shinjuku Line train comes in.  While riding the escalator down, having a look at the scene outside the station.

高田馬場駅のホームから、改札口向きエスカレータを下りる  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:43 p.m.)


"Heading for Takadanobaba Subway" (100413-1244)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNonFKT45P4

Taking a quick look at the outside area in front of Takadanobaba Station, and then heading for the stairs down to the Tozai subway line.

高田馬場駅の地下鉄に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:44 p.m.)


"Tozai Line - Takadanobaba Ticket Gates to Platform" (100413-1245)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA1Pf2UAkak

Going through the ticket gates for the Tozai subway line at Takadanobaba Station and then walking down to the platform to wait for the next train (which came about 60 seconds after I got to the platform).

高田馬場駅で改札口から、東西線地下鉄のホームまで  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:45 p.m.)


"Tozai Line Trains Arrive at Takadanobaba" (100413-1247)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04Hj5-wyz1s

Outbound and inbound Tozai Line trains arrive at Takadanobaba Station at about the same time.  (I took this video from the inbound platform.)

高田馬場駅で上りと下りの電車が遣って来る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:47 p.m.)


"Ginza Subway Train Arrives at Nihonbashi Station" (100413-1306)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW6PS4mwDUs

Watching a Ginza Line subway train arrive at Nihonbashi Station, and then climbing aboard at the front of the train.

日本橋駅で銀座線の電車が遣って来る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 1:06 p.m.)


"Ginza Line - Tunnel View and Ginza Platform View" (100413-1308)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-wHl9Yf-AI

A look out the right-side window of a Ginza subway train as it leaves Kyobashi Station, and then a front cab view looking into the tunnel ahead as the train runs to Ginza Station, where I get off and look at the platform and then the train continue on towards the next stop, Shinbashi.

銀座線のトンネルビューと銀座駅のホームビュー  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 1:08 p.m.)


"Ginza Chuo-dori Walk" (100413-1316)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCs2xmOwHtw

Walking along the Chuo-dori main street in Ginza.  There used to be more small shops even on the main streets - but as they continually demolish small buildings and put up ever larger ones, Ginza loses more and more of its soul.  If the trend continues, one part of Tokyo will be just about the same as any other part.  No need to worry about a Godzilla monster coming up from the sea - the country is already being continually torn apart by the construction industry!  A city needs new construction to survive of course, but Japan in general (and Tokyo in particular) would be better if a little more of its past was preserved....

銀座大通りの中央通り散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 1:16 P.M.)


"Edge of Ginza - Sotobori-dori Walk" (100413-1736)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqlzR1lsPH8

Walking along Sotobori-dori (one of the main streets in Ginza), which forms the borderline between Ginza and Yurakucho for the section that I'm walking on in this video, with Ginza on the left, and Yurakucho on the right.

銀座と有楽町の間の外堀通り散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 5:36 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/17

"Ueno - Last Trip to See Sakura Trees in Bloom in 2010"

This set of clips begins with walking down a platform at Ueno Station, continues with clips in Ueno Park (at night) of the sakura viewing parties, and ends with a view of passing trains from the roof a park-side building that it looks like it is about to be torn down.

"Yamanote Ueno Station Platform" (100409-1928)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jc2moQbM44

Walking down the Yamanote Line platform at Ueno Station while on my way to see the sakura tree scene in Ueno Park.

山手線の上野駅ホーム、上野公園花見に行く途中  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:28 p.m.)


"Ueno Station - Passageway Between Upper Sections" (100409-1930)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5HcJe_yYyY

Exploring the upper level of Ueno Station - walking down a long, narrow passageway that connects two major sections of the station - just before going to see the sakura tree scene in Ueno Park.

夜上野駅の二階の通路  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.)


"Park Exit at Ueno Station" (100409-1934)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5m27DyQjwg

Exiting "Koen-kaisatsu" (Park Exit) at Ueno Station, on my way to check out the Sakura flower viewing scene on a Friday evening towards the end of the week or so that the cherry blossom flowers were in bloom.

上野駅の公園改札、桜の花見に出発  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:34 p.m.)


"Quiet Corner of Ueno Park - Hanami 2010" (100409-1951)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt-6_HHVuYA

A quiet corner of Ueno Park away from the noisy crowds out to see the sakura blossoms.  About the only people here were the people in the restaurant (right side of picture).  People congregate where the largest number of sakura trees are, but this was a much nicer-looking scene.

上野公園の桜花見の静かな場所  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:51 p.m.)


"Nighttime Under the Trees - Sakura, Ueno Park 2010" (100409-1957)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqylB3KXMjI

Springtime Friday night revelers under the sakura trees in Ueno Park.  This was towards the end of viewing season for the flowers, which were only in bloom for a couple of weeks.

上野公園の桜花見の忙しい場所  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:57 p.m.)


"Ueno Night Sakura Scene - 2010" (100409-2007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaxZntR3qXg

Only one part of the long row of sakura trees in Ueno Park was well-lit, and so it was there that people stopped to take pictures.

上野公園の桜花見の写真を撮っている人々  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 8:07 p.m.)


"Food Stall Section of Ueno Park During Hanami Season (1/2)" (100409-2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Azy4s-DNfkw

Walking through the row of food stalls set up by the pond during the sakura tree viewing season.

上野公園の桜花見時期の食べ物販売  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 8:10 p.m.)


"Food Stall Section of Ueno Park During Hanami Season (2/2)" (100409-2036)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xirr0bASVIY

Walking back through the row of food stalls (set up by the pond during the sakura tree viewing season), going in the opposite direction from the 20:10 post.

上野公園の桜花見時期の食べ物販売  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 8:36 p.m.)


"Vertical Ueno View from Condemned Building Roof" (100409-2044)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-QgajrdOQo

Standing on the roof of a condemned building that used to have restaurants within it and souvenir shops on the first floor.  Since the roof matches up exactly with the ground level of the park, it doesn't seem like a roof when you walk onto it from the park.  The new building with the colorfully lit edge is the new Yodobashi Camera in Ueno.

上野公園の古いビルの屋上ビュー  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 8:44 p.m.)


"Passing Trains Seen from Ueno Park Roof" (100409-2046)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6OEhWJ_dTg

Watching three trains pass by from the roof of the old building that is shut down and looks as though they are about to tear it down.  The brightly lit edge of a new building that you can just see on the right side of the frame is the new Yodobashi Camera store in Ueno.

上野公園の古いビルの屋上から、通り過ぎり電車を見る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 8:46 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/15

"Train Views, Yotsuya Hanami, Ochanomizu, Seibu Front Cab Views, Etc."

Running around Tokyo on the train system; a look at a hanami party under the sakura trees in Yotsuya; changing trains in Ochanomizu; looking at Akihabara from the window of a moving train, and - from station to station - the full ride from Ogawa to Takadanobaba, in several clips taken through the front cabs of a Seibu-Haijima Line train and then (after transferring) a Seibu-Shinjuku Line train.

"Chuo Line Arriving at Kokubunji (Diagonal View)" (100409-1724)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxVpWydIbig

Diagonally watching a Chuo Line train arrive at Kokubunji Station, and then climbing aboard.

国分寺駅で中央線が遣って来ます  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 5:24 p.m.)


"Hanami Parties Near Yotsuya Station" (100409-1853)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0uJ56iNERQ

Starting with a look down the street between Kioi (concert) Hall on the left and the New Otani Hotel on the right, and then turning to the left and looking down the street that runs between the rampart (with the sakura trees) and Sophia University (on the right), after which I begin walking along the top of the old rampart on the narrow path on top - walking under the sakura trees, with hanami party people beneath them.  It was too dark on the rampart to show the trees in much detail (or color), but near the lights you can see the cherry blossoms, and the sound of the hanami parties conveys the atmosphere there somewhat.

四谷駅の近く花見している人々  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 6:53 p.m.)


"Entering Yotsuya Station on April 9th, 2010" (100409-1906)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3YAG27KUE0

Entering Yotsuya Station, walking down the stairs, walking past the ticket gates for the Marunouchi Line, and then over to and through the ticket gates for the Chuo Line.

四谷駅に入って、丸の内線の隣を通り過ぎて、JR改札口に通ります  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:06 p.m.)


"Boarding Inbound Chuo Line at Yotsuya" (100409-1909)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXU7W_4xRv0

Watching an inbound Chuo Line train arrive at Yotsuya Station, and then boarding it.

四谷駅で中央線の上り電車が遣って来て、乗ります  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:09 p.m.)


"Waiting For a Train at Ochanomizu" (100409-1915)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmNL5IIvp1c

Looking around on the platform at Ochanomizu Station while waiting for a train.

電車を待っている間に、御茶ノ水駅のホームを見回ります  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:15 p.m.)


"Ochanomizu Station Platform Walking" (100409-1916)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-HVv8IXlC0

Walking along one of the platforms at Ochanomizu Station, where I changed to a local train from a kaisoku.  Before my train arrives, there are several sounds - the motor sounds of a departing train on the neighboring platform, station announcements, etc.

御茶ノ水駅のホームを歩きながら駅の音を聞く  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:16 p.m.)


"View of Akihabara from Train Window" (100409-1919)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZO7lWERCh0

A view of Akihabara from the window of a Sobu Line train as it pulls into Akihabara Station.

総武線の窓から、秋葉原を見て、秋葉原駅に到着  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:19 p.m.)


"Akihabara Station - 7:20 p.m." (100409-1920)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z43nseQ4IQ

After having just gotten off of an outbound Sobu Line train at Akihabara, I watch as people get off and on, and then watch the train leave the station.

下り総武線を降りて、人が降りたり乗ったりを見て、電車が出発する  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:20 p.m.)


"From Sobu Line to Yamanote Line at Akihabara Station" (100409-1921)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W9xkIh02Ak

Changing trains at Akihabara - going from an outbound Sobu Line train to a Ueno-Bound Yamanote Line train.

下り総武線のホームから、山手線までの乗り換え  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:21 p.m.)


"Yamanote Line Night Window View - Leaving Akihabara Station" (100409_1924)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQj89v9ziyE

A view of the modern face of Akihabara just after the train left Akihabara Station (next stop, Okachimachi) - typical visual entertainment available when riding Tokyo's trains at night and standing by a door, so you can look right out the window.

(The long bench seats - facing the centerline of the train car - are not the best place to be for looking at the world flowing by outside, unless the train is nearly empty and you can see out the windows on the opposite side, without people in the middle blocking the view.)

山手線の窓から、東京秋葉原の夜風景を見ながら御徒町駅に向かいます  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 9th, 2010, at 7:24 p.m.)


"Ogawa to Hagiyama Cab View (Seibu-Haijima Line)" (100413-1213)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X49qpR9Rgb0

Front cab view on the Seibu-Haijima Line from Ogawa Station to Hagiyama Station.

西武拝島線で小川駅から萩山駅までの前方向風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:13 p.m.)


"Hagiyama to Kodaira Cab View (Seibu-Haijima Line)" (100413-1216)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea1SF7dzxr8

Front cab view on the Seibu-Haijima Line from Hagiyama Station to Kodaira Station, where I changed to a Seibu-Shinjuku Line train.

西武拝島線で萩山駅から小平駅までの前方向風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:16 p.m.)


"Kodaira to Hanakoganei Cab View (Seibu-Shinjuku Line)" (100413-1219)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEm1OHmMkHc

Front cab view on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line from Kodaira Station to Hanakoganei Station.

西武新宿線で小平駅から花小金井駅までの前方向風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:19 p.m.)


"Hanakoganei to Tanashi Cab View (Seibu-Shinjuku Line)" (100413-1222)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7kRgTVGMVU

Front cab view on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line from Hanakoganei Station to Tanashi Station.

西武新宿線で花小金井駅から田無駅までの前方向風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:22 p.m.)


"Tanashi to Kamishakuji Cab View (Seibu-Shinjuku Line)" (100413-1225)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQFgzt3Iw9w

Front cab view on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line from Tanashi Station to Kamishakuji Station.

西武新宿線で田無駅から上石神井駅までの前方向風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:25 p.m.)


"Kamishakuji to Saginomiya Cab View (Seibu-Shinjuku Line)" (100413-1229)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5FTv0XNA6o

Front cab view on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line from Kamishakuji Station to Saginomiya Station.

西武新宿線で上石神井駅から鷺ノ宮駅までの前方向風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:29 p.m.)


"Saginomiya to Takadanobaba Cab View (Seibu-Shinjuku Line)" (100413-1234)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxMBYmMG7lA

Front cab view on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line from Saginomiya Station to Takadanobaba Station.

西武新宿線で鷺ノ宮駅から高田馬場駅までの前方向風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 13th, 2010, at 12:34 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/12b

"Trains Here & There - Suidobashi, Iidabashi, Ichigaya, Etc."

In motion - going from one station to another; changing trains, waiting for trains, riding trains - life in Tokyo generally centers on the trains in one way or another.

"Yurakucho Sunset - March 31st, 2010" (100331-1816)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FRyoDYhRm4

Pausing to look around at passing trains, walking people, and the setting sun in Yurakucho.

有楽町の夕日  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 6:16 p.m.)


"Changing Trains at Tokyo Station - March 31st, 2010" (100331-1846)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1PcK-Tkyg

Getting off of a Keihin-Tohoku Line train at Tokyo Station, I begin the transfer walk over to the Chuo Line, the clip ending as I reach the base of the escalator that lead up to the elevated platform (the Chuo Line is higher up than the other platforms - a result of all the lines being moved over (towards the old station building) to make extra room for more Shinkansen tracks on the other side of Tokyo Station.

東京駅で京浜東北線から、中央線のエスカレータまで  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 6:46 p.m.)


"Suidobashi Station - Waiting for Train to Go" (100331-1856)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhJrceSa8gI

Sticking my head out the door of a stopped local Chuo Line train I was on, looking down the platform in both directions - wondering what the train was waiting for.

水道橋駅で、止まっている電車の中にまた電車が動き出すのを待ってる  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 6:56 p.m.)


"Approaching Iidabashi Station - Night Window Reflections" (100331-1858)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCCjts_zgyY

Looking into/out a window at night on a train nearing Iidabashi Station.  A very typical scene for Tokyo ....

飯田橋駅に近づきながら、夜の窓の風景を見る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 6:58 p.m.)


"Iidabashi Station Nighttime Platform Walk" (100331-1900)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRSFhb9nx04

Walking down the nighttime platform at Iidabashi Station as the train I took there pulls out of the station (next stop Ichigaya).

飯田橋駅で降りてホームを歩きながら電車の出発を見る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 7:00 p.m.)


"Walking Towards Kudankita from Iidabashi" (100331-1903)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRLgAIU4EZ8

Walking down the two-lane street that runs between Iidabashi and Kudankita.  Typical nighttime scene for a Tokyo pedestrian.

飯田橋駅から九段北へ歩く  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 7:03 p.m.)


"Entering Ichigaya Station at 10:00 p.m." (100331-2159)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQxx7LoubNc

Entering Ichigaya Station just before 10:00 p.m. after spending time experiencing the hanami festivities in Kudankita and Chidorigafuchi.  I rushed a bit, thinking a train might already be there, but it wasn't, so I might as well have walked at a more relaxed pace.  That's the Tokyo lifestyle for you - always hoping to save a minute here or there.

午後十時に市ヶ谷駅に入るところ  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 9:59 p.m.)


"Ichigaya to Yotsuya - Night Window View" (100331-2201)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=018lPvqssUM

Night window view (with reflections) from Ichigaya to Yotsuya, where I got off to change trains.

市谷駅から、四ッ谷駅までの夜窓ビュー  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 10:01 p.m.)


"Local Train About to Arrive Announcement at Yotsuya" (100331-2204)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIkjUPMF_JQ

An announcement at late-night Yotsuya Station that a local train is about to stop at track three.

四ッ谷駅で各駅停車の電車がすぐ来るのアナウンス  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 10:04 p.m.)


"Late Night Local Train Arrives at Yotsuya Station" (100331-2205)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ch7NJUGAWMY

While waiting for a faster train, I watch a late night local train arrive at the next platform over.

四ッ谷駅で各駅停車の電車が遣って来る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 10:05 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/12

"Kudankita and Chidorigafuchi Sakura & Hanami - 2010"

Several clips from Kudankita and Chidorigafuchi - taken on March 31st, 2010 of the sakura trees in bloom and all the people there to celebrate the coming of spring and the beauty of the trees.

"Kudankita 2-Chome Hanami Walkabout-B" (100331-1910)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKnq8_3wGxE

Walking about on the main path at Kudankita - walking up the hill toward the section with the most sakura trees in the hanami area - walking past the many food stalls.

九段北の花見大会  散歩-B  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 7:10 p.m.)


"Kudankita 2-Chome Hanami Walkabout-C" (100331-2002)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN6B-u_nUag

Walking along the narrow dirt path behind the main sakura tree area, between the seating areas and the food stalls.

九段北の花見大会  散歩-C  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 8:02 p.m.)


"Kudankita 2-Chome Hanami Walkabout-D" (100331-2004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3b7GUt3TpE

Another walkabout by the small stalls, but looking around a bit more with this one - not hurrying quite as much.

九段北の花見大会  散歩-D  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 8:04 p.m.)


"Food Stalls and Shadows at Kudankita Hanami" (100331-2019)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OqHAcl9J4I

Walking on the main stone passageway that leads under the huge torii gate, with floodlights behind me casting long shadows of the people walking away from the lights.

九段北の花見大会  散歩と影  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 8:19 p.m.)


"Chidorigafuchi Sakura Trees in Bloom at Night" (100331-2028)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70cJ-tUR41k

Walking along one of the most famous places for viewing the cherry blossoms in Tokyo - Chidorigafuchi.  It was a little before they were in full bloom, but everyone was enjoying them nevertheless, and most people were taking pictures of them as they slowly walked along.

千鳥ヶ淵の桜の木  花見大会  散歩と影  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 8:28 p.m.)


"Different Color Sakura Trees at Chidorigafuchi at Night" (100331-2033)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_49lmEVQmio

Further down along the old moat (of former Edo Castle), the color of the blossoms changed, as did the atmosphere, which seemed to be connected with the colors somewhat.  Viewing the blossoms at night can actually be better than seeing them in the day - provided they are illuminated!  When they shut the lights off later (around 10:00 p.m. I think), then most of the magic from the light show vanishes with the light.

千鳥ヶ淵の別色桜の木  花見大会  散歩と影  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 8:33 p.m.)


"Standing Under Gigantic Torii During Hanami Season" (100331-2135)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmeE5xKpl-s

Standing by the huge torii gate at Kudankita and watching the scene for a little before heading for a station.

桜花見シーズンの時に、九段北の大鳥居の隣に立ている  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 9:35 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/11

"Yotsuya Platform Views, Marunouchi Line, & Chuo Line at Tokyo"

Beginning with a walk down the inbound platform of the Marunouchi Line, including looking over at nearby Sophia University, and a look at the inside of the train after climbing aboard.  Then a look through the front cab as the trains rolls through the tunnel, and a view from the Ginza Station platform of the train leaving Ginza Station.  Finally, a view of a late-night Chuo-Line Train pulling into Tokyo Station.

"Walking Down Marunouchi Line Platform at Yotsuya" (100408-1624)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsizzx4TsYw

Walking down the Marunouchi Line platform at Yotsuya Station (on the platform for trains headed towards Kasumigaseki/Ginza), and looking around.  The Marunouchi Line is a subway, but a couple of its stations are above ground, including this one.

Notice the new platform edge barriers (same concept as elevators with their double doors).  Certainly it's safer to have them and it's a good idea, etc., but still there is something about them I don't like.  New stations have ever more walls - walls to stop cold winds in winter (and fresh breezes in spring); walls to stop accidents and suicides (and a view of the trains when they come in), etc.  It feels slightly claustrophobic.

There is also a view of some of the buildings of Sophia University - over on the other side of the rampart.

When the Marunouchi Line comes in, I climb aboard - showing the inside of the train as it descends into the tunnel (it's aboveground at Yotsuya).

四谷駅の丸の内線のホーム散歩  東京  (Recorded on Thursday, April 8th, 2010, at 4:24 p.m.)


"Marunouchi Line Front Cab View of Tunnel" (100408-1631)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfsNNAYQMKo

Looking out the front cab window on a Marunouchi Line train headed towards Ginza/Tokyo.  While rolling towards Kasumigaseki (the next stop), you can see a train passing on the right side.  Newer subway lines tend to have independent tunnels for each direction of travel, but on old lines like the Marunouchi Line, there are sections where the trains running in the opposite direction can be seen in the large square tunnel.

(There appears to be some sort of coating on the window between the cab and the passenger compartment that creates the fogged up effect on the left side of the image.)

丸の内線の前のトンネル風景  東京  (Recorded on Thursday, April 8th, 2010, at 4:31 p.m.)


"Mirror View of Marunouchi Line Train Leaving Ginza Station" (100408-1635)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iHdPZalYko

Half direct, and half mirror view of Marunouchi Line train leaving Ginza Station and entering the tunnel - heading for the next stop, Tokyo Station.

銀座駅で、半分鏡を見て丸の内線がトンネルに入る仮面  東京  (Recorded on Thursday, April 8th, 2010, at 4:35 p.m.)


"Late Night Chuo Line Train Arriving at Tokyo Station" (100408-2324)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J91NTb2eEw

Watching a late night Chuo Line train arrive at Tokyo Station, and then hurriedly climbing aboard.

東京駅で中央線の電車が遣って来ます  東京  (Recorded on Thursday, April 8th, 2010, at 11:24 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/10

"Shinjuku, Sakura, Train Views, etc."

Opening with a moment in a park beneath the springtime cherry blossoms - with a light breeze and someone playing a guitar and harmonica.  Then getting back on the trains - a large part of living in Tokyo.  In Akihabara, a look at construction under the highly elevated tracks (where there used to be a department store) and a walk through the narrow passages of the area full of small shops selling component electronic parts.  Also a view of crossing over the boundary between Yurakucho and Ginza.

"Sakura Trees, a Guitar & a Harmonica" (100406-1753)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrMTa-pDPjI

Looking up at blooming sakura (cherry blossom) trees with a relaxed partly cloudy sky overhead and a man nearby playing a guitar and harmonica.  Spring is a great time!

桜の咲いている木、ギターとハーモニカ - 春万歳！  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 5:53 p.m.)


"Typical Shinjuku Scenes Near the Railway" (100406-1848)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG71BufpabQ

Typical scenes in Shinjuku near the railway lines.  First, walking across one of Tokyo's large intersections, with a very wide crosswalk to handle the large number of people that build up waiting for the fire-breathing machinery to momentarily stop so human beings can walk.  (I like cars in many settings, but not in Tokyo!)  Then a walk through the "Omoide-Yokocho" lane full of yakitori izakaya shops.

新宿の線路隣の風景  思いで横丁居酒屋  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 6:48 p.m.)


"Shinjuku - West Side Sidewalk" (100406_1902)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgpec6lH6rI

Walking down the sidewalk that runs in front of Keio Department Store on the west side of Shinjuku Station.

新宿の道を歩きながら  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 7:02 p.m.)


"Highway Buses at Shinjuku Bus Terminal" (100406-1905)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQeDHwzOiQo

Walking by a couple of highway buses stopped in front of the highway bus terminal in Nishi-Shinjuku.

新宿バスターミナル（ヨドバシカメラの隣）  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 7:05 p.m.)


"Akihabara Small Electronics Parts Vendors" (100331-1345)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKSmKWFPnwk

Starting with a quick look at new construction near Akihabara Station (where a department store used to be) and then diving into a couple of the narrow passageways (almost like tunnels) with many small shops selling electronics parts.  Electronics used to be what Akihabara was all about (and still is to a certain extent), but with the proliferation of discount electronics stores all over Tokyo; fewer people making their own radios and whatnot; and the manga industry moving into Akihabara, business for parts sellers like this has been on the decline.

秋葉原電気部品販売所と駅の近くの工事  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 1:45 p.m.)


"Akihabara Station Construction in Early 2010" (100331_1347)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J41dGTG8_g4

A content video to show what the area right by Akihabara Station looked like while it was under construction on March 31st, 2010.  Tokyo is constantly changing, so you have to record things if you want to understand the history of this city....

秋葉原駅の工事  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 1:47 p.m.)


"Akihabara Station Loading to Tokyo Station Unloading" (100331-1351)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQEUI7_Pg70

Starting off with a platform view at Akihabara Station as a Keihin-Tohoku Line train comes in (followed by the doors-about-to-close melody), and then looking out (mainly) a right side window, followed by a move to the left side in preparation for getting off the train in Tokyo.

This video clip includes the full in-train announcements in English and Japanese, and also a quick look at the inside of the train, as well as the welcome announcement at Tokyo Station, followed by the Tokyo Station doors-about-to-close melody and the recorded warning that the doors are about to close.

秋葉原駅の電車乗るところから、有楽町駅降りるところまで  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 1:51 p.m.)


"Tokyo to Yurakucho Left Side View" (100331-1356)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsq4AAuR8vQ

A left-side view from a Yamanote Line train running from Tokyo Station to Yurakucho Station, including in-train announcements and the Yurakucho Station announcements.

東京駅から、有楽町駅までの左側風景  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 1:56 p.m.)


"Entering Ginza - Crossing Street" (100331-1401)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xan3-1BLX14

Coming from Yurakucho Station, walking along the fringe of Yurakucho and then crossing the street that forms the border between Yurakucho and Ginza.

有楽町から、銀座へ入るところ  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 2:01 p.m.)


"Hibiya Park Sakura Tree in Full Bloom" (100331-1618)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQvG4oPFKTY

A close look at a sakura tree in full bloom in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo, with a green background and very few people about.

日比谷公園の咲いた桜の木  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 4:18 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/07

"Kichijoji Inokashira Park - Sakura Viewing (Hanami-taikai)"

The weather hasn't been the best for viewing the sakura (cherry blossom) trees this year.  About half the days so far have been rainy.  When I went by Kichijoji on Tuesday evening (yesterday) though, it was quite nice - not too cold, no rain, and no wind.  On the other hand, there were many police to chase people out of the park when the clock reached 10:00 p.m!

It was too dark to take very good videos, but one of the clips below was taken in the heart of the park with everyone going strong in their sakura party modes.  The other clips are of heading to the park from Kichijoji Station, and then heading back to Kichijoji Station from Inokashira Park.

"Arriving in Kichijoji" (100406-2144)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTt4hn0DeZU

Arriving at Kichijoji on the Chuo Line and heading downstairs towards the ticket gates as the train I disembarked from gets under way.

中央線で吉祥寺駅に到着  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 9:44 p.m.)


"Walking to Inokashira Park" (100406-2147)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d8f4pdu0cA

Walking down the narrow street that leads to Inokashira Park from Kichijoji Station.  About the same number of people are returning from the park as are going there.  Inokashira Park is one of the more popular places for "hanami" parties when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

吉祥寺駅から、井の頭公園に行く途中  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 9:47 p.m.)


"Entering Inokashira Park for Hanami" (100406-2149)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1snVGC_DQ4

Walking past the shops and restaurants at the end of the narrow street leading to Inokashira Park from Kichijoji Station, and then walking down the steps that lead into the park.

I hadn't noticed it at the time, but in reviewing this clip, I see there's a banner at the entrance saying that hanami parties are until 10:00.  No doubt brought about by the raucous noise that is generated by some groups, and the proximity of the park to residential areas.

井の頭公園に入るとこと  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 9:49 p.m.)


"Inokashira Late Night Sakura Walk" (100406-2158)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lps8s61Nz0

A bit dark for taking a video, the audio part is probably more descriptive of the scene by the pond in Inokashira Park than the visual element, but you can see enough to imagine the scene somewhat.

I was sitting by the pond enjoying a can drink when I looked over and saw a group of police officers about 20 meters away purposefully standing in a group, so I thought "Uh-oh... Curfew?" and pulled out my cell phone to check the time - just before 10:00 p.m!  I jumped up and took this video with my right hand, while holding the unfinished drink with my left hand, knowing that the atmosphere was about to (figuratively) receive a spray of cold water!

夜遅く井の頭公園の池隣の散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 9:58 p.m.)


"Police in Inokashira Park Enforcing 10:00 p.m. Curfew" (100406-2204)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWGnhF_SCWg

As I had suspected when I saw a group of police officers purposefully standing together, at 10:00 p.m. they switched on their light sticks, formed a line, and started going from group to group, telling them that it was now past the 10:00 p.m. curfew and they had to break up their hanami parties and go home.

夜遅く井の頭公園で警察が花見大会を終了させる時  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:04 p.m.)


"Walking Away from Inokashira Park at Night" (100406-2206)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smqlk42XdKs

Walking along the narrow street between Inokashira Park and Kichijoji Station after 10:00 p.m., the hanami party curfew for the park.

I noticed several people still headed *into* the park, so I wondered how that would work out.  Maybe only large groups (which generate the most noise) were being asked to break it up - maybe couples were still allowed to quietly be there?

井の頭公園から吉祥寺駅までの細い夜道を歩きながら  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:06 p.m.)


"People Traffic Jam by Kichijoji Station" (100406-2209)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78TvcaQOqZE

After having been stopped at a traffic light to allow fire-breathing machinery free passage, these bipeds created a people traffic jam in the street leading to the station.

吉祥寺駅近くの人込み  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:09 p.m.)


"Kichijoji Station Crowds & Entering Ticket Gates" (100406-2211)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad8YY3gEuaw

Typical crowded evening scene at Kichijoji Station.  (Actually, most stations anywhere near central Tokyo are something like this in the evening.)

吉祥寺駅の人込みとJR改札口  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:11 p.m.)


"Chuo Line Arriving at Kichijoji Station" (100406-2213)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SkpwPq3VzY

View of a Chuo Line train arriving at Kichijoji Station - including the station announcements, both for the outbound train and the inbound train.

吉祥寺駅で中央線の到着  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:13 p.m.)


"Reflective Window View While Leaving Kichijoji" (100406-2213)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrDrKTWWdOg

A reflective view out/in the window of a Chuo Line train as it leaves Kichijoji Station.

吉祥寺駅からの中央線出発眺め（内）  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:13 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/06

"Train Views - Kokubunji, Chuo & Keihin-Tohoku Lines"

The first video in this batch is of looking out the rear cab of a Seibu-Kokubunji Line train, including views of the inside of the rearmost train car, as well as right and left sides of the train.  Then there's a separate video clip, showing only a view of the inside of the train car, with the passing scenery visible through the windows on both sides.

From there it goes to the front of a Chuo Line train just leaving Ochanomizu Station, showing (out a left side window), a sakura (cherry blossom) tree in bloom in the distance - by the Marunouchi Line tracks.

After that I recorded views of taking a Keihin-Tohoku Line train from Kanda up to Yurakucho, where I got off, and - leaving the camera running - recorded views of trains going by in both directions, as seen from the station platform (including views of passing Shinkansen trains).

"Takanodai to Koigakubo - Rear Cab View" (100402-1501)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyzl4r52mVg

Looking out the rear cab of a Seibu-Kokubunji Line train as it goes from Takanodai Station to Koigakubo Station.  A line running on a single track like this is rare in Tokyo.  (Some parts of the line are double-tracked, and some are single.)  Also a short view of the interior of the train and views out the right and left sides.

鷹の台駅から恋ヶ窪駅まで、後ろ眺め  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 2nd, 2010, at 3:01 p.m.)


"Rolling Towards Kokubunji in a Seibu-Kokubunji Line Train" (100402-1505)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmx-NpVCAcA

Looking up the train on the inside as it rolls towards Kokubunji Station - with about half the seats filled.  Since no one is standing, the view out the side windows is strikingly viewable (compared to usual conditions - with standing people blocking the view).

国分寺駅向きの西武国分寺線電車の内部眺め  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 2nd, 2010, at 3:05 p.m.)


"Ochanomizu to Kanda - Left Side and Front Views" (100402-1542)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX5kBJZLm0s

Looking out the left side of a Chuo Line train as it leaves Ochanomizu Station.  Notice the sakura tree down by Marunouchi Line tracks, and then the many sakura pedals in the river when I take a look down.  After that, a look out the front cab and then to the left side again, where Shinkansen and Yamanote Line trains can be seen.  Also a brief view of the inside of the train.

御茶ノ水駅から神田駅まで、左側と前の眺め  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 2nd, 2010, at 3:42 p.m.)


"Passing Shinkansen, Arriving Keihin-Tohoku Train - Kanda to Tokyo" (100402-1548)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRR2mayrTjE

Watching a Shinkansen go by, and then walking back to an arriving Keihin-Tohoku Line train that I get on and ride down the line to the next stop - Tokyo.  (Notice the other trains on neighboring tracks.)

通る新幹線、到着京浜東北線  神田駅から東京駅まで  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 2nd, 2010, at 3:48 p.m.)


"Tokyo to Yurakucho - Train Typhoon at Yurakucho" (100402-1551)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaJVPE550D4

Beginning as the Keihin-Tohoku Line train I was on departed Tokyo Station and went one short stop down the line to Yurakucho Station.  At Yurakucho Station, I watch several trains come and go - one after the other, including Shinkansen trains on neighboring rails.

通る新幹線など、東京駅から有楽町駅まで  有楽町駅で、色々な電車を見る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 2nd, 2010, at 3:51 p.m.)


"Yurakucho Station - One Train Out, One In" (100402-1556)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW5KwiosA0I

Walking up the platform at Yurakucho Station, I watch a Yamanote Line train depart, followed almost immediately by a Keihin-Tohoku Line train arriving from the opposite direction.

有楽町駅で、山手線が出発、京浜東北線が到着  東京  (Recorded on Friday, April 2nd, 2010, at 3:51 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/05

"Shibuya Friday Night Views, Late Night Tokyo Station & Chuo Line"

Beginning with Friday night views of Shibuya, and then taking the Yamanote Line from Shibuya to Ebisu, and later that night, views of late night highway buses in front of Tokyo Station and a couple of views on one of the last Chuo Line trains of the night.

"Shibuya, Friday Night - March 19th, 2010" (100319-2006)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KjrNiWuYTE

Shibuya on a Friday night - walking under the rail bridge from the east side to the west side and the famous "scramble" crosswalk.

金曜日の渋谷2010年3月  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 8:06 p.m.)


"Shibuya, Friday Night Stroll Down Wakamono-gai" (100319-2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GegHelV-ugY

First walking across the "scramble" crosswalk in Shibuya, and then down the main street of Wakamono-gai.  Towards the beginning, notice the advertising truck go by.  Are these used in other parts of the world as well?  Or are those peculiar to Tokyo?

金曜日の渋谷 - 若者街の散歩  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 8:08 p.m.)


"Friday Shibuya Scramble to Hachiko Square" (100319-2033)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFUykzZ1ps4

Walking back towards Shibuya Station - going through the "scramble" crosswalk with a flowing look to the side at all the other people also in the intersection.  Once across, I stroll through the Hachiko Square scene.

スクランブル交差点を渡って、ハチ公スクエアに入る  金曜日の渋谷  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 8:33 p.m.)


"Boarding Yamanote Line at Shibuya" (100319_2036)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4gYPx9YlyU

Getting on the Yamanote Line in Shibuya around 8:30 in the evening.  The station would be a bit more crowded if it were later (being Friday and all).  Also, this train is going towards Shinagawa/Tokyo - the trains going towards Shinjuku/Ikebukuro are more crowded.

渋谷駅で山手線を乗る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 8:36 p.m.)


"Yamanote Night Run - Shibuya to Ebisu" (100319-2038)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exEoADcGkmQ

Riding the Yamanote Line from Shibuya to Ebisu, and then walking up the platform in Ebisu while a Shibuya-bound train leaves the station - and then walking over to the other side of the platform, and continuing walking up the platform next to the train I took from Shibuya to Ebisu as it departs Ebisu - heading towards Shinagawa/Tokyo.

渋谷駅から恵比寿駅までの夜山手線  恵比寿駅のホーム散歩  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 8:38 p.m.)


"Blue Light Yamanote Platform at Ebisu" (100319-2116)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1XcHvczovg

While waiting for a Shinagawa/Tokyo bound Yamanote Line train, I watch a Shibuya/Shinjuku bound Yamanote Line train come in through the blue haze of one of the anti-suicide blue lights installed on the ends of the Yamanote Line platforms.

There's been a lot of talk over the years about how color influences people - there was talk of the dark-orange color of the old Chuo Line trains causing people to jump in front of the trains(!), and now there is talk of blue light soothing people - so they put in the lights to cheer people up enough so they don't jump in front of the trains so often(!).  (This is probably also why they're playing bird songs at so many the stations...)

Who knows... truly truth is stranger than fiction, so maybe there's something to it.

恵比寿駅で品川行きの山手線を乗りました  ブルーライト画面もあり  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 9:16 p.m.)


"Tokyo Station Highway Buses" (100319-2332)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyIT1Sb7y-o

A scene fairly narrow in time - with many parts of Tokyo Station now under construction, the many long-distance highway buses are taking on passengers next to temporary construction walls.

It's a bit depressing to see the constant growth in bus use, as the more people that use buses, the less support there is for Japan's excellent train system, which may begin to suffer if enough of the country takes to rubber on asphalt instead of steel on steel.

東京駅前のハイウエーバス乗り場  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 11:32 p.m.)


"Late Night Chuo Line at Tokyo Station" (100319-2338)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ThNj-fJVPM

Waiting at Tokyo Station for a Chuo Line kaisoku train just after 11:30 p.m.  At this time at night, not all of the trains that stop at this double-sided platform are kaisoku (fast or "rapid") trains (as is the case for most of the day).  The one that came in on the other side that I ignored was a slow train.

東京駅で夜遅くの中央線を待っているところ  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 11:38 p.m.)


"Late Night Outbound Chuo Line - Window View" (100319-2355)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij7CIRx-egs

Looking out the window of a late night Chuo Line train as it rolls towards - and then into - Shinjuku Station.  Notice that many people are talking.  It's really quiet in the morning, but on a late night train like this, people have come out of restaurants and whatnot, they're happily going home (as opposed to grumpily going to the office), and there is often a fair amount of talking going on.

夜遅くの中央線を乗っている、外に見る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 11:55 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/04/04

"Kudankita Hanami, Yokohama, & Hino Station"

Starting with a walk through the sakura viewing area in Kudankita (near Kudanshita Station), and then showing part of the Minato-Mirai (subway) Line in Yokohama, a couple of amusement park rides (also in Yokohama), and a view of Hino Station on the Chuo Line.

"Kudankita 2-Chome Hanami Walkabout-A" (100331-2012)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzpZ_fjdp2M

Walking by the many food stalls at the large hanami area in Kudankita 2-Chome (near Kudanshita Station on one side and Yasukuni Shine on the other).  This area is logistically good for large groups to meet for a hanami session under the cherry blossoms - particularly for companies in the area.

九段北２丁目の花見散歩-A（靖国神社の近く）相変わらず桜は、綺麗です  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 8:12 p.m.)


"Riding Toyoko Line Train into Motomachi-Chukagai Station" (100319-1503)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGATf3tq8o8

Riding a nearly empty Toyoko Tokkyu train into Motomachi-Chukagai Station on the Minato-Mirai Line (which is seamlessly connected to the Toyoko Line from Shibuya).

(The "To" of Toyoko is from "Tokyo" and the "yoko" is from "Yokohama" - that name chosen since the train ran between Tokyo (Shibuya Station) and Yokohama (Sakuragicho Station - which was the Yokohama side of Japan's very first train, which ran from Yokohama to Shinbashi).  When they built the Minato-Mirai subway line, the Toyoko Line was put underground as it approaches Yokohama Station, and it no longer stops at Sakaragicho Station (where JR still has a station), since it was rerouted to match up with the subway.

東横線のほとんど空の特急で元町中華街駅まで乗る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 3:03 p.m.)


"Motomachi-Chukagai Station - March 19th 2010, Early Afternoon" (100319-1505)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaf531CcWKw

Looking around inside Motomachi-Chukagai Station, watching a train pull out, and then walking onto another train to go back up the line a few stops (the Tokkyu express train I had taken took me past the station I wanted to get off at, so I had to backtrack a couple of stations).

東横線の元町中華街駅の見回り  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 3:05 p.m.)


"Empty Train Angles" (100319-1506)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Uyw561AUQ

Looking around a nearly empty Toyoko Line train as it leaves Motomachi-Chukagai Station.

東横線のほとんど空の電車中を見回り  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 3:06 p.m.)


"Walking Through Mostly Empty Toyoko Line Train" (100319-1508)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isYFJrbeFYQ

Walking towards the front of a very lightly loaded Toyoko Line train - going through a couple of cars.

東横線の電車中の散歩  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 3:08 p.m.)


"Yokohama 'Spinning Coaster' Ride at CosmoWorld" (100319-1839)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THUyADKQrVM

The full ride.  The best part about this ride - and most of the other rides at Yokohama's CosmoWorld - is the view.  Aside from the fantastic view of Mt. Fuji and the surrounding countryside from the top of FQH's FY (name converted to acronym to save people searching for that much larger and more exciting amusement park from getting the wrong search result), I don't think I've ever been to an amusement park with a better view.  Be careful with your camera though!  On the disappointing roller coaster "Diving Coaster 'Vanish'" at CosmoWorld, they stopped the ride midway and came out to very rudely steal people's cameras!

横浜みなとみらいのコスモワールドのスピニングコースターナットビュー  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 6:39 p.m.)


"Shutdown for Camera Theft on 'Diving Coaster Vanish' at CosmoWorld"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O59DjfvDcc4

30 seconds at the start... and then they shut down the ride as it was starting the climb of the first hill, and sent out a very rude man to steal people's cameras.  If you want to visually record this ride, be sure to hide your camera well until the very top - just before it starts down and it's too late for them to stop it.  (It's a boring coaster, so maybe that's why they don't want people recording it?)

横浜みなとみらいのコスモワールドのダイビングコースターバニッシュ30秒（カメラを盗まれる前） (Winter 2010)


"Bashamichi Station (Minato-Mirai Line" (100319-1918)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fl5XYAyrSQw

Taking an escalator down to the platform of Bashamichi Station just as a train is pulling out - watching the train leave, and then watching another one begin to stop on the other side of the platform.

みなとみらい線の馬車道駅  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 7:18 p.m.)


"Chuo Line Trains at Hino Station - HD" (100331-0953)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AiMuBA1Pk8

Watching an inbound Chuo Line train speed into Hino Station, and then watching an outbound train depart as I get aboard the inbound train.  (Posted in high-definition.)

中央線の日野駅で上りと下り電車  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 9:53 a.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/29

"Chuo, Yamanote, & Toyoko Line Front Cab Views"

Several views out the front cab of trains - from the Chuo Line to the Yamanote Line and finally the Toyoko Line.

"Chuo Line New Elevated Tracks - Front Cab View" (100319-1400)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k54zlUUdHhc

Looking out the front cab window within an express Chuo Line train ("Tokubetsu-Kaisoku" or "Chuo-Tokkai"), running on recently elevated tracks.  Construction is ongoing, proceeding in stages.  First moving the rails over, then building an outbound elevated section, and then this section for inbound trains, which is the most recent improvement.  Further improvements will enable more express trains to pass slower local trains during the rush periods.

上り中央線の特別快速（中央特快）が新しい線路で上に走る画面  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:00 p.m.)


"Front Cab Views on Chuo Line Between Mitaka and Nakano" (100319-1406)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUEjUlbWB8s

Looking around through the front cab of an express Chuo Line train ("Tokubetsu-Kaisoku" or "Chuo-Tokkai") - looking straight ahead, then angling the camera to the right, then to the left, back to a straight ahead view, etc.

中央線の特別快速（中央特快）が三鷹と中野の間に走る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:06 p.m.)


"Approaching Shinjuku in Chuo Line (Front Cab View)" (100319-1416)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndMQ_GdfpNY

Looking out the front cab of a Chuo Line express ("Tokubetsu-Kaisoku" or "Chuo-Tokkai") as it approaches and pulls into Shinjuku Station.

中央線の特別快速（中央特快）が新宿駅に入る  運転士の見方  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:16 p.m.)


"Pulling into Harajuku - Yamanote Daytime Cab View" (100319-1426)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UWnvyUzjio

Looking out the front cab as a Yamanote Line train pulls into Harajuku Station.  (At night, they put blinds in front of this section of glass to prevent reflections from the train interior lighting from interfering with the driver's view out the front glass.)

山手線の運転士の見方で原宿駅に入る    東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:26 p.m.)


"Rolling Through Noontime Darkness Leaving Shinjuku" (100319-1422)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR4YRS911LI

Looking out the front cab of a 2:22 Yamanote Line train as it goes under the long stretch (as it leaves Shinjuku Station) under a road before getting back out to daylight again.  In-between the lights of the station and the sunlight, it's almost like night on this stretch.

山手線で新宿駅から出発と、トンネルのように道路の下に走る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:22 p.m.)


"Yamanote to Toyoko Line Transfer in Shibuya" (100319-1427)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OkRwVnQ9QE

Rolling into Shibuya on the Yamanote Line (looking forward through the front cab) - then walking back through the train a little before getting off when the train stops at Shibuya Station, where I walk down the platform to the stairs; go down to the ticket gates, and then walk over to the Toyoko Line, through the ticket gates there, and towards the stairs that lead up to the platform.

山手線で渋谷駅で降りて、ホームの散歩、階段を下りて、東横線に乗り換え  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:27 p.m.)


"Departing Shibuya on Toyoko Line Tokkyu Express" (100319-1431)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D22clzhzzXM

Front cab view of scenery ahead as a Toyoko Line express train (Tokkyu) departs Shibuya and begins its journey to Yokohama.  The train goes through the curves just out of Shibuya slowly, but - as shown in a subsequent video: "Toyoko Tokkyu Line Run to Kikuna" - builds up some serious speed later.

東横線の特急で渋谷駅から、出発  前の風景を見ながら... 見る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:31 p.m.)


"Toyoko Tokkyu Line Run to Musashi-Kosugi" (100319-1439)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNMQSK_4bWY

At this point, the train is starting to get some speed up, as it runs towards the next stop, Musashi-Kosugi Station.  It's hard to pin it down exactly, but there's something exciting about the Toyoko Line - maybe because it goes between Shibuya and Yokohama.  Most lines tend to go in and out of the city center, but the Toyoko Line goes from one lively spot to another - so there's no real inbound and outbound - just Yokohama-bound or Shibuya-bound.

The track being straighter in places than most of the stretch between Musashi-Kosugi and Kikuna (see next video for that: "Toyoko Tokkyu Line Run to Kikuna"), more serious speed is achieved there.

東横線の特急で武蔵小杉駅までの走れ（前の風景）  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:39 p.m.)


"Toyoko Tokkyu Line Run to Kikuna" (100319-1443)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpxmKoBz5sw

Part of the run between Musashi-Kosugi and Kikuna (shown in this video) seems to be the fastest stretch of the line.  When I looked over at the speedometer, it was at over 100 kph.  Maybe this is one of the reasons I always enjoy using the Toyoko Line.  It goes to and through cool areas, and it gets to Yokohama pretty quickly (as does the Keikyu Line, come to think of it).

Comparing the Toyoko Line run to Yokohama (from Shibuya) to the Keikyu Line run to Yokohama (from Shinagawa), the Keikyu Line, with wider gauge rails, is actually faster I think, but I've heard that the Toyoko Line is one of (maybe *the*) fastest narrow gauge trains in Tokyo.

東横線の特急で武蔵小杉駅から菊名駅までの早い走れ（前の風景）  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:43 p.m.)


"Toyoko Line - Between Kikuna and Yokohama" (100319-1451)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sDG6qTkk4Y

Front cab view on a Yokohama-bound Toyoko Line Tokkyu Express train (Tokkyu) not long after leaving Kikuna, lasting until the train enters the tunnel that leads to the underground part of Yokohama Station.

I just realized another reason I like the Toyoko Line - they don't assault their passengers' ears with half-speed, over-pronounced, over-amplified unwanted, unneeded, irritating, inane announcements in English.

As a haven from that kind of horrible noise pollution, the Toyoko Line is very nice.  But... will it last?  At first, only JR assaulted the ears of it's passengers with HOOUUII announcements (for acronym definition, see above paragraph), and then other lines began following the bad new custom by also assaulting the ears of their passengers as well.  Hopefully the Toyoko Line will resist this horrible trend.

Ah... wait a second.  The last time I used the Tozai Line (I think it was the Tozai Line - I'll double-check the next time I use it), the English wasn't so horrible.  It really isn't necessary at all I don't think - all anyone has to do is listen carefully for the station name they are headed to, but if they must use English announcements, at least they could show some consideration for their poor passengers who have to listen to the announcement over and over and over, and use a non-obnoxious voice that isn't half-speed, over-pronounced and too bloody loud.  The JR one is really horrible.  Maybe it was made that way by someone who wants to drive foreigners out of the country... (just kidding... maybe...).

東横線の特急で菊名駅から横浜駅途中まで、トンネル入るところまで（前の風景）  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 19th, 2010, at 2:51 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/28

"Shibuya - March Saturday Night Crowds"

First a look at people shopping for chocolate on the day before "White Day" (March version of Valentine's Day), then I walk through Hachiko Plaza on my way to a stroll down Youth Culture Street (my term), followed by taking the Inokashira Line from Shibuya to Kichijoji, where I change to the Chuo Line.

"Shibuya Station Department Store 'White Day" Sales" (100313-1933)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XblQG-7jLwI

The day before "White Day" (the March version of Valentine's Day, held on March 14th), in a section of Tokyu Department Store within/under Shibuya Station.

After coming down the stairs (or escalator) from the Toyoko Line, turn left, and then left again to double back into this food section of (one of) the Tokyu Department Store(s).

(Going straight into the department store on a level with the 2nd floor ticket gates of the Toyoko Line, you would find yourself in the cosmetics section of the store.)

渋谷駅の下で、デパートのホワイトデー（14日）前日の買い物  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 7:33 p.m.)


"Day Before 'White Day' in Shibuya" (100313-1936)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4K-SzeZhQE

Another section of Shibuya Station selling chocolate the day before "White Day".  The basic idea in Japan being that women buy chocolate for men on Valentine's Day and men buy chocolate for woman on "White Day" one month later on March 14th.  So I was a little surprised to see some women buying chocolate the day before "White Day", but it probably doesn't have anything to do with "White Day"?  Who knows... since it's just a commercial thing (not cultural or religious), anything goes!

渋谷駅のホワイトデー（14日）の前日の買い物  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 7:36 p.m.)


"Hachiko Square One Saturday in March" (100313-1939)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB9W7KGiuNI

Walking around in Hachiko Square on a Saturday evening in March.  As people meet up with friends, a political van with a man on top with a microphone goes on about something.  People usually just ignore these types of political (very large) soapboxes, but sometimes they are so over-amplified that they are actually physically painful to hear if you're anywhere near them (not the case on this particular day).

After walking around in the waiting area in front of the Hachiko dog statue, I head over towards the "scramble" crosswalk and wait for the next walk-everywhere green lights....

渋谷駅前のハチ公広場の土曜日の夕方の様子  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 7:39 p.m.)


"Shibuya Jungle Walk - March 2010" (100313-1943)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_TLYwlMqCA

Saturday is probably the busiest night for this street.  Not sure what to refer to this street as (Wakamono-gai?) - but it's sort of the center of Shibuya's youth culture.  It was created a about four decades ago by putting a small river underground and making its former path a street - the street in this video.

There's a lot to see in this video if you watch it closely.  The people and scenes are pretty much what it's like to walk down that street.

渋谷若者街の土曜日夜の散歩  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 7:39 p.m.)


"View of Wakamono-gai in Shibuya" (100313-1953)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlVktprRPXk

Looking down on Wakamono-gai, the street that runs diagonally from Shibuya Station and is (sort of) the center of the youth culture in Shibuya.

渋谷若者街の土曜日夜の風景  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 7:53 p.m.)


"Heading Towards Inokashira Line in Shibuya" (100313-2005)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXoANzIkN3M

Crossing the "scramble" crosswalk in Shibuya and heading towards the Inokashira Line, which is off to the side of Shibuya Station.

土曜日の渋谷、井の頭線に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 8:05 p.m.)


"Boarding Inokashira Line at Shibuya Station" (100313-2007)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4QCfgyaqLo

Walking up the platform through people just arriving in Shibuya on a Saturday night - going the other way myself, heading towards Kichijoji (the other end of the Inokashira Line).  Notice that there are not that many people getting on (by Tokyo standards anyway), since it was only just after 8:00 p.m.

土曜日 - 渋谷駅の井の頭線を乗る  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 8:07 p.m.)


"Walking Through Inokashira Line Train" (100313-2031)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EnrrW967LI

Being able to walk through a train in Tokyo is not something to take from granted.  I was in a hurry to change trains at Kichijoji (where the ticket gates are at the extreme front end of the platform), so I dropped in behind someone else walking up the train - "I'll let him clear a path..." thought I.

井の頭線の中に歩く  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 8:31 p.m.)


"Chuo Line Leaving Kichijoji - Inside View" (100313-2034)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WWrdlGIVW8

Leaving Kichijoji Station via the Chuo Line - walking through part of the carriage and then looking out the window at a combination of a direct outside view and a reflected inside view.  This is a large part of life in Tokyo!

Thinking back to my car culture days, I can easily recall the view from the drivers seat of my 1971 Datsun 510 (which I drove seven days a week for about four years).  One of the train culture versions of that, is watching inside/outside views at night while looking out the window at an angle.

Hmm... speaking of memories from the driver's seat - for some reason the first thing that comes to mind are memories of sitting there on rainy days - maybe because the senses were more alert on such days?

中央線で吉祥寺駅から出発  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 8:34 p.m.)


"Kaisoku Chuo Line Arriving at Mitaka" (100313-2038)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfAp85_HM0s

Standing on the platform as an outbound Chuo Line kaisoku (rapid) arrives - overtaking a regular Chuo Line train stopped on the other side of the platform (waiting for the kaisoku to pass).  Visually not particularly exciting, but the announcements might be sort of interesting.

三鷹駅で中央線の快速が到着  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 8:38 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/27

"Yokohama Station - Toyoko Line to Shibuya"

Still on that Saturday!  This covers train and train station views in Yokohama and Shibuya from my trip to Shibuya from Yokohama via the Toyoko Line.

"Toyoko Line Bound in Yokohama Station" (100313-1851)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=644Ix77lP5o

Heading through the pedestrian tunnels in Yokohama Station, transferring from the Yokohama Blue Line to the Tokyu Toyoko Line.

横浜駅で、東横線に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 6:51 p.m.)


"Yokohama Toyoko Line Ticket Gates to Platform" (100313-1853)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMtmBTvQi4g

Walking from the ticket barrier for the Toyoko and Minato-Mirai Lines (with the Toyoko LIne strangely labeled "Tokyu L.").

It hasn't been many years since the Toyoko Line was put underground at Yokohama Station, so everything is still pretty squeaky clean.

When I reach the platform, there is an express train there, but the many people waiting in line are waiting for a different type of train to arrive.  (After this, a local came, and then a special express train (which is what I was aiming for.)

横浜駅の改札口から東急東横線のホームまでの散歩  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 6:53 p.m.)


"Local Toyoko Line Train Arrives at Yokohama Station" (100313-1856)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvsgUL2F_nQ

Watching a local Toyoko Line train arrive in Yokohama while waiting for an express.

横浜駅で、東横線の各駅電車の到着  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 6:56 p.m.)


"Local Toyoko Line Train Departs Yokohama Station" (100313-1858)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tLUG2qDSew

Watching a local Toyoko Line train depart Yokohama Station while waiting for an express.  Since the line is seamlessly split (at Yokohama Station) between the Toyoko Line and the Minato-Mirai Line, some of the trains are Toyoko Line (surface) trains and some are subway trains.

The only disadvantage to there being two lines instead of one is the cost.  You always pay more when going from one line to another than if the entire line was run by one company.  On the other hand, when two lines run in parallel, then you tend to get faster and cheaper service, as the lines compete with each other.  Different lines in series means you pay more, and different lines in parallel means you pay less....

横浜駅で、東横線の各駅電車の出発  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 6:58 p.m.)


"Arrival of Toyoko Line Special Express" (100313-1901)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15rEiagLomU

After letting a regular express and a local train go by, I got on the special express train when it arrived at Yokohama Station.

横浜駅で、東横線の特急電車の到着  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 7:01 p.m.)


"Exiting Toyoko Line in Shibuya" (100313-1930)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb5l68RsEks

Exactly 30 minutes after boarding a special express in Yokohama, I walk up the platform in Shibuya towards the exit just after having gotten off the train there.  While walking up the platform, an outbound train departs.

渋谷駅で、東横線を降りて改札口に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 7:31 p.m.)


"Exiting the Toyoko Line in Shibuya" (100313-1932)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUYr7FJLxJQ

Walking through the ticket gates as I leave the Toyoko Line and enter the main part of Shibuya Station - going down the escalator that lands by the Tokyu Department Store (as do all exits from the Toyoko Line - come to think of it - Shibuya is "Tokyu Town").

渋谷駅で、東横線の改札口を通して渋谷駅の中の散歩  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 7:32 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/26

"Yokohama Twilight & The Blue Line"

Wrapping up a day in Yokohama, I view the twilight scenes and take the Yokohama Blue Line subway to Yokohama for the first part of my return trip back to Tokyo.

"Yokohama Water Slide 'Cliff Drop' Ride" (100313-1727)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_98FvWXiN4

Nearly the full water slide "Cliff Drop" log ride at Yokohama's amusement park CosmoWorld.  (To prevent the camera from getting wet, I put it behind my coat at the splash point at the bottom of the two hills.)  This particular ride was pretty decent - long enough to take in the nice views of Yokohama Minato-Mirai and also fun with the two slides.  (I would advise staying away from the too-short and too-boring roller coaster, but this ride is fairly decent.)

横浜コスモワールド遊園地のクリフ・ドロップを乗りました - その風景  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 5:27 p.m.)


"'Galaxy' Ride in Minato-Mirai Area" (100313-1803)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLjsCGmQZCk

Watching (from right beside it) the Galaxy ride at Yokohama's amusement park CosmoWorld in the twilight of a Saturday evening.

夕方の横浜コスモワールド遊園地のギャラクシー乗り物の風景（隣の様子）  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 6:03 p.m.)


"Minato-Mirai Twilight View - Lights and Water" (100313-1814)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAs-7P4I2GM

Looking back towards the ocean side of Yokohama's Minato-Mirai area, and then looking 180-degrees inland at the old sailing ship moored there, and then up at 70-story tall Landmark Tower.

夕方の横浜のみなとみらいの風景  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 6:14 p.m.)


"Yokohama Blue Line Subway Train Arrives at Sakuragicho Station" (100313-1843)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f9cndtFCFk

Waiting for, and then watching as the Yokohama Blue Line subway comes into Sakuragicho Station.  After it pulls in, I climb aboard for the ride to Yokohama Station.

横浜ブルーライン  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 6:43 p.m.)


"Riding Yokohama Blue Line Towards Yokohama (Inside View)" (100313-1847)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdtfPr1a0Cw

An inside look at a ride on the Yokohama Blue Line subway - zinging through the tunnel for awhile before it pulls into Yokohama Station.  The particular train I took not only had interesting pictures on the outside of the train, but also on the seats!  It seemed cleaner than the usual already clean Tokyo subways... due to newness I presume.

横浜ブルーラインの内部  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 6:47 p.m.)


"Yokohama Underground Station Walk" (100313-1849)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJaDoIPVq38

Walking through an underground section of Yokohama Station.  When I went to Yokohama on a regular basis many years ago, I remember it being under construction - now that the construction is done, it seems quite clean and modern (which it is...).

横浜駅の地面の下の新しいところ  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 6:49 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/24

"More Details Inside CP Plus Camera Show in Yokohama"

I have already posted two general overview video clips of the the 2010 CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show, held at Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center, but this batch of clips (see below) are a few (slightly) more detailed looks at some of the booths at the show.

"CP+ Camera Show Women by Entrance" (100313-1457)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNJKPPhoYI8

Entering the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show at Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center - walking past the show women posing for photographers by the entrance.  These were general models for the show - each of the manufacturers had their own models in each company's own uniforms - most also posing for photographer's pictures.

パシフィコ横浜の入り口の様子  カメラマンたちがショーガールをパチパチ写真を撮る  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 2:57 p.m.)


"Photo Exhibit at CP Plus Camera Show" (100313-1506)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZeK3HsETQk

A look at the photo exhibit area of the 2010 CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show at Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center.  I was intrigued somewhat by the women who was intently photographing someone's photographs... I guess she really liked them.

パシフィコ横浜のシーピープラス・カメラと写真映像のイベントショー  写真ディスプレイのところ  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 3:06 p.m.)


"Nikon and Olympus Booths at 2010 CP Plus Camera Show" (100313-1509)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyTrz1N7dmw

Walking by and/or through the Nikon and Olympus display areas at the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show at Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center.

パシフィコ横浜のシーピープラス・カメラと写真映像のイベントショーのニコンとオリンパスのところ  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 3:09 p.m.)


"Two Models in White, 50 Photographers" (100313-1512)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkLkok1F31w

Two women standing in front of a backdrop (with the name of the company they are working for) pose for a large number of photographers.  The photographers get a chance to practice taking pictures of live models, the models get modeling experience, and the company gets its logo recorded in the background.

二人のモデルさんと、五十人のカメラマン  パシフィコ横浜のシーピープラス・カメラと写真映像のイベントショー  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 3:12 p.m.)


"Olympus and Canon Booths at 2010 CP Plus Camera Show" (100313-1514)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_F4uAdtyA

Walking by and through the Olympus and Canon display areas at the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show at Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center.

パシフィコ横浜のシーピープラス・カメラと写真映像のイベントショーのオリンパスとカノンのところ  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 3:14 p.m.)


"Fuji-Film Booth at 2010 CP Plus Camera Show" (100313-1519)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXoq_RLuVR0

Having a look at the Fuji-Film booth at the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show at Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center.

パシフィコ横浜のシーピープラス・カメラと写真映像のイベントショーの富士フィルムのところ  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 3:19 p.m.)


"Ricoh Booth at 2010 CP Plus Camera Show" (100313-1522)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmwiuD9OG6c

Having a look at the Ricoh booth at the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show at Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center.

パシフィコ横浜のシーピープラス・カメラと写真映像のイベントショーのリコーのところ  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 3:22 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/22

"On the Way to Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center"

Beginning with a few clips of views inside the "CosmoWorld" mini-amusement park, and continuing on to external views of the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center, and then inside views leading towards the entrance to the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show.

"Passing Through CosmoWorld on way to Pacifico Convention Center" (100313-1402)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twLDgW9cYyE

A look at a mostly empty CosmoWorld mini-amusement park while on my way to the Pacifico Convention Center.  The large ferris wheel with its colored lights makes the area more picturesque at night, with the light reflecting off the water.

パシフィコ横浜に行く行く途中のコスモワールド  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 2:02 p.m.)


"Stopped 'Cosmo-Clock' Ferris Wheel at CosmoWorld" (100313-1411)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNIWKgMnKbc

Sitting at an empty table (they were all empty except for one other person), I contemplated the large ferris wheel overhead - stopped due to strong winds, which were making fairly dramatic noises blowing through the large ferris wheel structure.  This amusement park as a whole is tiny, but its ferris wheel is huge!

コスモワールドの暴風で止まっている「コスモクロック」  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 2:11 p.m.)


"Nearly Empty CosmoWorld in Strong Winds" (100313-1423)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOmROiXBEpQ

A look around from the upper level at the mini-amusement park CosmoWorld, including of the tracks (painted pink) of the overpriced, boring 'Diving Coaster - Vanish' roller coaster, whose sole redeeming quality is that it dives down through a hole in a pond.  But even that is boring from the ride itself, so it's more interesting (and you don't have to waste Y700) to watch it do so from the side, where it actually looks (a little bit) like it's going into the pond.  If you *do* decide to ride this mini-roller coaster, be sure to hide your camera until the thing is about to start down the first hill, as otherwise they actually shut the thing down as it's beginning to climb the hill, and send out rude people to steal the riders' cameras!  I had this happen to me and it was quite an unpleasant experience (people go to an amusement park to have fun, not to be treated badly).  I tried giving the very rude man just the battery, but he insisted on stealing the camera.  I did get it back after the ride - with a big greasy fingerprint in the middle of the monitor screen.  If they're going to insult people and steal their personal property, they could at least be more careful with it....

Interestingly, the "Cliff-Drop" water log ride is actually pretty good - and vastly better than the ripoff that the mini-roller coaster is.  The log ride has good views, and two hills that you get to slide down.

コスモワールドの暴風の中の様子  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 2:23 p.m.)


"Walk Through the 'Game Center' Building at CosmoWorld" (100313-1426)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_qPnNScnUc

Still wasting time at the mini-amusement park CosmoWorld on my way to the camera show at nearby Pacifico Convention Center....

コスモワールドの暴風の中の様子  空っぽゲームセンター  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 2:26 p.m.)


"Exterior of Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center" (100313-1444)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wzz4of89TNQ

Looking at reflections in the mirrored glass of the exterior of the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center, before going inside for the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show.

パシフィコ横浜  外側の鏡グラス  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 2:44 p.m.)


"Afternoon Entrance to Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center" (100313-1447)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUVFcX2_fgU

Looking at the people walking about in the March afternoon light on the external walkway in front of the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center, just before entering to see the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show.

パシフィコ横浜  外側の様子、中に入る前  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 2:47 p.m.)


"Upper Entrance to Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center" (100313-1448)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hJ4teVIrkI

After walking in the upper entranceway to the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center (where the restaurants are) and giving the area a quick 360-degree look, I take the escalator down to the registration and entrance area of the show itself.

パシフィコ横浜の中の様子  上の入り口から、エスカレータを乗って、下のショーの入り口まで  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 2:48 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/21

"Yokohama Minato-Mirai - Train Line & Area Approach"

Views of the Minato-Mirai (subway) Line, and of the approach to the Minato-Mirai area, which is a relatively new development project, thus the "mirai" (future) in the name.  I tend to think it's not actually a good idea to enshrine "new" or "future" in area or building names though - look at the old "New Otani Hotel".  At this point, the name is sort of weird.  So what happens to this "future" place in the real future, when it's in fact development from the past?  Wouldn't it be better to look ahead a little when naming a place?  Whatever!  I don't really care, but just think it's a bit strange attempting to fossilize "new" or "future" - their very definition smashes the attempt.

"Yokohama Minato-Mirai Line Platform Walk" (100313-1247)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjQ7eyFIje8

Walking down the escalator to the Minato-Mirai Line platform, and then walking up the platform as a train arrives and departs on the opposite platform.  As I reach the end of the platform (back of the outbound train I was about to board), and look into the tunnel, the video ends just as my train can be heard approaching.  This is a fairly new station and it shows in how squeaky-clean it looks.

横浜駅で、エスカレータを下りて、地下鉄みなとみらい線のホームに到着とホームの散歩  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:47 p.m.)


"Arrival and Departure of MinatoMirai Line at Yokohama Station" (100313-1250)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdqeb1N2EyE

Watching a Minato-Mirai subway train arrive at Yokohama Station, followed by boarding the train, station platform announcements, and then a view of rolling past the entire length of the platform, followed by a short look at the interior of the train.

横浜駅の地下鉄みなとみらい線の電車が到着と出発  電車の中の様子  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:50 p.m.)


"Brief Stop at Minato-Mirai Station" (100313-1253)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3ykYWxh1Xw

Watching the conductor and the scene on the platform at Minato-Mirai Station as my train (view from inside the rolling train) pulls into the station, the train on the opposite side pulls out, the platform announcements are made, and the train is about to get under way.  Being at the very back of the train, the overhead set of platform monitors can be seen as well.

みなとみらい駅に到着とホームアナウンス、出発の準備  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:53 p.m.)


"Leaving Minato-Mirai Station (Rear Cab and Train Interior Views)" (100313-1254)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib3jx8GvlOw

Watching the conductor close the train doors and check the platform of Minato-Mirai Station as the train leaves.  Also a quick look at the interior of the train.

みなとみらい駅から出発（車内）  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:54 p.m.)


"Yokohama Seagulls Waiting for Strong Winds to Subside Near Landmark Tower" (100313-1333)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4OjBqnZzUA

On my way to the camera show at Pacifico Yokohama, I noticed a fairly large number of seagulls bobbing about in the river - seemingly waiting for the strong winds of the day to slow down for safer flying.

横浜ランドマークタワーの近くに、かもめが暴風を終わるまで待つ  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 1:33 p.m.)


"Solitary Moment Before Joining Saturday Crowds" (100313-1339)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAH2VgL6oOI

Finding myself alone down by the river, I took in the solitude for a moment before joining the Saturday crowds in Yokohama's Minato-Mirai area.

横浜で、人込みに入る前に一人の瞬間  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 1:39 p.m.)


"Minato-Mirai Area - Walking Along Former Railway Tracks" (100313-1343)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONUI_WKjRNc

Walking along former freight train rails on the way to a shopping mall and amusement park.

横浜みなとみらいで、元貨物線の鉄道の道に歩く  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 1:43 p.m.)


"Old Steel Bridge in Minato-Mirai - Kids in Rowboat" (100313-1345)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OaNWkdI7kU

Walking across an old steel bridge (formerly used for a freight rail line) as a strong wind blows and a large rowboat full of kids goes under the bridge.

横浜みなとみらいで、元貨物線の鉄道橋  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 1:45 p.m.)


"Yokohama Minato-Mirai Mall (External View)" (100313-1354)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_odpKe-KQ2k

Looking around near a mall at Minato-Mirai in Yokohama.

横浜みなとみらいモール  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 1:54 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/18

"Trip to Yokohama - March 2010"

It's been a while since I took a day trip over to Yokohama - so I recorded much of the trip - part of which is posted to YouTube, as outlined below.

"Tokyo Station - Exiting Chuo LIne" (100313-1203)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGDBEXFtUNI

Pulling into Tokyo Station on a Chuo Line train (the last stop on the line), stepping out onto the platform and then beginning the long escalator ride/walk down to the lower level concourse that passes under all of the surface line tracks, where I walked over to transfer to a Tokaido Line train for the run to Yokohama.

東京駅、中央線から降りてエスカレーターで下り始める  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:03 p.m.)


"Tokaido LIne Green Cars (Upper & Lower Levels)" (100313-1206)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j9OrNOQo24

While the Tokaido Line train was stopped at Tokyo Station (the first station on the line), I walked into and through the two "Green Cars" (1st class), going first through the upper level (in the first car) and then through the lower level (in the second car).  I would have walked through the section between the two 1st class cars, but the door wasn't opening (either locked, or I wasn't pulling/pushing/whatever the handle correctly), so I went out to the platform to get to the next 1st class car and then out to the platform again to get to the regular section of the train.

I don't mind not having a reserved seat, but a train trip certainly is much nicer if the seat is by the window and facing forward instead of facing the centerline of the train car with two groups of people set facing each other as though both were on a stage.  (That's not a complaint exactly - I realize that this seating arrangement is the most practical, given the number of people who use the trains during the peak rush hours.)

東海道線のグリーン車（上を下） 東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:06 p.m.)


"Tokaido Line - Racing Towards Yokohama" (100313-1233)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82lLnQOxuh8

Looking out the right side of a Tokaido Line train as it races towards Yokohama.  (The train it has just passed at the beginning of the clip is a Keihin-Tohoku LIne train.)  This section of rails with several lines running side by side is a good one for looking out the window and watching the different trains go by on neighboring rails.  (The red, black, & white train is one of the Narita Express trains that runs from the International airport in Chiba to different places in Yokohama and Tokyo.)

When I lived in Chigasaki, I often used the Tokaido Line (although I used the Odakyu Line more), so I always feel a bit nostalgic about it when using it now.

東海道線 横浜に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:33 p.m.)


"Tokaido LIne - At Speed View - Right Side" (100313-1235)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXOrikjf8o4

The Tokaido Line train I'm on continues speeding towards Yokohama.  Looking out the right side of the train - over the other rails (this is a busy stretch for passenger trains).  Getting a little away from Tokyo, the different tracks begin to split up.

東海道線 横浜に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:35 p.m.)


"Yokosuka Line Approaching Yokohama" (100313-1237)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ROz3eWdJsU

Watching the two double-deck "Green Cars" of a Yokosuka Line train (running in parallel with the Tokaido Line train I was on) slowly pass in front of the camera.  This is the usual setup for 15-car JR trains in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba (the Kanto Region) - with single-level train cars for the whole train other than the two first class cars ("green cars"), which are two-level designs.

横須賀線のグリーン車（東海道線からの様子）  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:37 p.m.)


"Tokaido & Yokosuka Lines Racing into Yokohama" (100313-1238)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k77ghFKSehA

A Tokaido Line (camera) train races a Yokosuka Line train into Yokohama - where I get off and begin walking down the platform in Yokohama.

東海道線と横須賀線の競争！ 横浜駅へ！  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:38 p.m.)


"Yokohama Platform Walk" (100313-1240)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxQxOGxMr1U

Walking down the Tokaido Line platform at Yokohama Station.  As I near the stairs, you can hear recorded bird sounds.  The idea is to relax people and get them to think of a serene spot in the mountains, but that effect works in reverse as well!  When someone hears real birds in a park or in the mountains now, they are just as likely to be reminded of commuter train lines in Tokyo!

横浜駅の東海道線のホーム  スピーカから、鳥の音が出て来ます  音はきれいですが、今度山へ行きと鳥の音を聞くと、都市の画面を浮かぶ事！  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:40 p.m.)


"Yokohama Station - Passing Through Ticket Gates" (100313-1243)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG_cvRGWWqo

Yokohama Station - exiting via the "Central South Gate" ticket barrier.  In reviewing this, I noticed a few things I hadn't at the time - like the young girl with the roller skate/running shoes.

That's the thing about taking pictures - you end up being only half-there, and don't really get a chance to see things in detail...  until you get back home and watch them on the screen!

横浜駅の改札口  土曜日の人々、都市の人の数！  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:43 p.m.)


"Mirrors by an Escalator in Yokohama Station" (100313-1245)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VX0LZVcvOg

Having visual fun with mirrors by an escalator in Yokohama Station.  (I rode these up and then down again specifically to get the full visual fun of flowing, reflected motion.)

For those who might complain that this is too short for a video - I would ask that you view this as a collection of still pictures.

横浜駅の鏡のエスカレータ  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:45 p.m.)


"Down, Down, Down - to the Yokohama Station Subway" (100313-1245)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnh9jEc8nmc

Descending one flight of stairs or escalators after another in my quest for the Yokohama Station subway, which is obviously rather deep underground, then passing through the ticket barrier and towards yet another escalator.  Yokohama Station is where the Toyoko Line becomes the Minato-Mirai Line (or vice-versa, depending on which direction you're going).

Caution: The signs in English are labeled "Tokyu L." and "Minatomirai L."  The "L" here refers to "Line".  Probably the "Minatomirai" name is so long that they couldn't fit in "Line".  It's unfortunate, as "L" is not a standard abbreviation for "Line" and someone not familiar with the system might mistake that as the name of the line, as in "L-Line".  It probably would have been better (and more interesting) to have written "Line" sideways at the end, which would have looked cool and not been embarrassing, the way way "L." is.

Also the Tokyu Corporation runs several train lines, so it would be more sensible to call this by its proper name "Toyoko Line".  Whoever is responsible for those signs should be ashamed of themselves.  That's just really sloppy.  Aren't they interested in quality?

横浜駅で、階段やエスカレータが次から次へ使って横浜駅の地下鉄へ行く  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 12:45 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/17

"Kichijoji - Friday, March 12th, 2010"

I went over to Kichijoji on Friday to meet a friend.  Kichijoji is somewhat similar to Shibuya as an area popular with young people (not to mention that Kichijoji and Shibuya are tied together via the Inokashira Line).  I don't get over there so often, but wouldn't mind going more....

"Exiting Chuo Line at Kichijoji" (100312-1805)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZH18nOKru8

Just after stepping off of an inbound Chuo Line train - I walk down the platform and get on an escalator to go down to the ticket gates.

吉祥寺駅で中央線から降りて、エスカレーターでホームから下りて、改札口に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 12th, 2010, at 6:05 p.m.)


"Kichijoji Bus Stop & Crosswalk" (100312-1809)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOQV8_QgL6E

Looking around while walking towards the Yodobashi Camera in Kichijoji - at people lined up for a bus; back towards the station, and then looking forward while walking across a crosswalk.

吉祥寺バス停と横断歩道  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 12th, 2010, at 6:09 p.m.)


"Kichijoji Night Stroll - Sun Road, Etc." (100312-1853)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-92CDVWxqnI

Strolling along on nighttime Kichijoji's Sun Road - and then turning left onto the open road leading towards Tokyu Department Store.  Kichijoji is quite a nice area actually - convenient for shopping, and with a large park not far from the station.

吉祥寺サンロードの散歩など  東京  (Recorded on Friday, March 12th, 2010, at 6:53 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/15

"CP+ Camera & Imaging Show in Yokohama - Overview"

I visited the CP+ Camera and Imaging Show in Yokohama on Saturday, thinking I might do some networking, but it was (not surprisingly actually) geared towards hardware enthusiasts (included me, come to think of it), with sales people showing off the various hardware and a section of photos on display over to one side.  There was also a section with old cameras that was interesting to see.

The following two video clips are of a rushed walk around the floor - the first one in a clockwise rotation and the second in a counterclockwise direction.

"Yokohama CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show - Clockwise Walkabout" (100313-1535)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xglY0cB479A

Clockwise walkabout view of the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show, held at the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center.  It was a typical hardware show with electronic camera manufacturers displaying their various cameras.  There was also a historical booth showcasing old cameras that was interesting to see.

CP+ Camera & Imaging Show:
http://www.cpplus.jp/en/

Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center:
http://www.pacifico.co.jp/english/

シーピープラス・カメラと写真映像のイベントショー、パシフィコ横浜（時計回り）  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 13th, 2010, at 3:35 p.m.)


"Yokohama CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show - Counterclockwise Walkabout" (100313-1604)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0ZqARZIzLk

Counterclockwise walkabout view of the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show, held at the Pacifico Yokohama Convention Center.

Lyle


2010/03/14

"Kokubunji & Haijima Lines + Ginza, Yotsuya, & Shinjuku"

Starting off on the Seibu-Kokubunji Line, going to the Seibu-Haijima Line, and then over to Ginza, followed by Yotsuya and Shinjuku.  The Ginza, Yotsuya, and Shinjuku scenes were recorded in the rain.

"Rural Scenery from Window of Seibu-Kokubunji Line" (100309-1437)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2e4G1GLHBc

View out the left side of a Seibu-Kokubunji Line train as it nears Ogawa Station.

西武国分寺線の窓からの風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 2:37 p.m.)


"Watching Haijima Line Train Arrive at Ogawa Station" (100309-1439)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3OR6cxfUtk

Waiting for a Seibu-Haijima Line train to arrive at Ogawa Station, and then watching as it pulls into the station.

小川駅で、西武拝島線の電車がやってくる  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 2:39 p.m.)


"Nihonbashi Station - Getting on the Ginza Line" (100309-1531)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iJzVIN7D-8

Walking down the platform at Nihonbashi Station as a Ginza Line train comes into the station, and then climbing aboard.  There are some noises peculiar to the Ginza Line and the Marunouchi Line, probably due to the third rail on the ground.  All other trains in Tokyo pull their electrical power from an overhead cable.

日本橋駅で銀座線を乗るところ  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 3:31 p.m.)


"Climbing to Central Ginza from the Ginza Line" (100309-1534)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhzq_Qj0gmQ

Getting off of a Ginza Line train at Ginza Station, going up the escalator to the ticket gates, then through the ticket gates and up a flight of stairs to street level.

This is the nice thing about the older subway lines in Tokyo - they're not very deep in the ground, so it doesn't take very long to get from the train to the street.  Getting to the street at Roppongi Station from the Oedo Line (just to name one example that comes to mind) is quite a hike, or - if you have the patience to ride the slowly moving escalators - quite a time burner.

銀座駅で、銀座線を降りて、地球の地面までの散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 3:34 p.m.)


"Walking in the Rain in Ginza" (100309-1536)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu83S9XVBlc

Walking down the main street in Ginza in the rain.  When there were more small buildings on this street, I used to like walking down it, but now many of the buildings are large (owned by sellers of "brand" bags or whatever), and have men standing at the door to welcome customers (mainly women) and discourage photographers (fair enough, but sometimes it's creepy when you just look in the store from the street and some guy is staring back at you like a security guard - which he probably is).  The larger the building, the tighter the security, and the less friendly the area becomes.

I used to think high-rises were interesting (nice view from the top, etc.), but I'm beginning to dislike them - they are increasingly becoming a kind of vertical gated community or gated workspace where everyone without a security badge is forbidden entry, and viewed suspiciously by security guards even when just walking by and minding their own business.  If you had written about this sort of thing 50 years ago, it would have been nightmare science fiction....

雨の中銀ブラをする...  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 3:36 p.m.)


"Ginza - 'Can I Interview You?' - 'No'" (100309-1658)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6wrcklcdKA

At the beginning of this clip, the woman with the red umbrella, who was marching down the street, minding her own business, was stopped by the woman with the green umbrella (who appeared to be working with a man who had a video camera), and asked (I think - I couldn't hear exactly what they said, but I've seen this scenario many times before when I could hear what they were saying) if she would agree to be interviewed on camera.  She declined and was soon walking again (behind me).

In the old days, back when being recorded in motion with sound was something unique, people were happy to do this, but I've noticed that camera crews often have trouble finding someone to interview now, as one person after another brushes them off.  The novelty is gone and people don't want to waste their time and/or they don't want to be on TV.

銀座でインタビューをしていいですか？ 駄目です  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 4:58 p.m.)


"Ginza Back Streets at Night in the Rain" (100309-1802)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJb908kvVmQ

After visiting a few art galleries, I came out of a building to discover that night had fallen (gee... it's never done that before...) and it was still raining, which is great for reflections.

銀座 - 雨の中の裏道  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 6:02 p.m.)


"Walking from Ginza to Yurakucho" (100309-1806)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6Q9nFlbUDc

Walking away from the Sony Building as I leave Ginza and head for Yurakucho Station.  (This is the dividing line between Ginza and Yurakucho.)

銀座から、有楽町に入る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 6:06 p.m.)


"Entering Yotsuya Station at Night" (100309-1842)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sdiz61jRvo

Coming out of the rain (mixed in with some snow) as I walked into Yotsuya Station, and then going down the stairs to the JR ticket barrier and through the gate - heading towards the next flight of stairs down to the platform.

夜の四谷駅に入る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 6:42 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Station Jungle Walk - March 9th, 2010" (100309-1853)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwX9AfWplM8

Starting at a bookstore within Shinjuku Station, and then walking through the upper level, out the ticket gates, and through the crowds of people coming and going.

新宿駅のラッシュ時間の人々  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 6:53 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Reflections in the Rain - March 9th, 2010" (100309-1855)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLtKqrFXCxI

Walking down a rain-soaked sidewalk in Shinjuku - with the colored lights from buildings reflecting off the sidewalk - and then across a busy crosswalk, with a crowd of people headed the other way towards the station.

新宿駅のラッシュ時間 - 雨の中の人々  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 6:55 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/10

"Nissan Figaro in Nissan Ginza Showroom - March 9th, 1991 & March 9th, 2010"

Now that I've uploaded these two videos and had another look at them, they seem boring to me, but when I stumbled upon the car just after having seen it in one of my videos taken exactly 19 years before, it seemed quite interesting.

"Nissan Figaro Shines for Ginza Crowd on March 9th, 1991"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1i52dhp3G0

On March 9th, 1991, I started my day of video-recording wanderings in Shinbashi, then went over to Shiodome and from there I went to Ginza and spent a few hours wandering around that area, after which I went to Shibuya and met up with some friends (see my posted videos for bits and pieces of that day).  While in Ginza, I walked up (with camera rolling) to the Nissan showroom at the famous 4-Chome intersection and noticed they were showcasing an interesting-looking car called "Figaro".  Many people outside were looking at it with interest and even more in the crowded interior, where I went with my video camera recording the moment.

Watching this video now, I'm reminded how much more interested people were in cars in 1991.  A much weaker economy and car culture saturation has younger people in Tokyo being less interested in cars and in the concept of being a car owner.

Time slip time - fast forward exactly 19 years to March 9th,1991, and I notice the very same car sitting in the same Ginza showroom.  See this video for a March 9th, 2010 view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmslm_-Fp9U

Notice how empty the showroom is in 2010.  Or course March 9th 2010 was on a Tuesday and March 9th, 1991 was on a Saturday.  Maybe it was just as crowded last Saturday?  In any case, car sales are down and the last Tokyo Motor Show generated much less interest than the shows in the late eighties and early nineties.

1991年3月9日、銀座の日産ショールームのフィガローと1991年の人々  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 9th, 1991.)


"Nissan Figaro Shines Again! (After 19 Years)" (100309-1651)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmslm_-Fp9U

Walking by the Ginza Nissan Showroom (in 5-Chome at the 4-Chome intersection), I idly looked in the window and noticed a familiar car: "Hmm... the lime-green Figaro [officially "emerald green"?].  .....  Wait... where did I last see that...? !!!!! I saw that last weekend while watching one of my old videos from 1991!!  Whoa!!  Time slip dude!"

So naturally, I walked in and asked the models (biped variety) at the counter inside the door about the model (fire-breathing variety) in the window.  They confirmed that it was a 1991 model and was on display for historical reasons.  I went in for pictures and talked about the car some more with another beautiful biped model inside (standing by the car) who told me that not only is it the same model that I saw in March 9th, 1991 (19 years ago to the very day!), but it was the very same car!  (Apparently Nissan has a storage facility to keep examples of its various models.)  She also explained that it was a limited production special edition with only 20,000 units built.

So - to jump back 19 years and see the same car, sitting in the same show window in the same corner building in Ginza, see the video at the following link, which was recorded on March 9th, 1991:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1i52dhp3G0

Incidentally, at one point I had a job out at the car factory that made the Nissan March (the platform that the Figaro was built on I believe), so it may have been built where the pictures on this photo page of mine were taken:

"Nissan Higashi-Murayama Factory"
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/PhotoGlryMain/PhotoGlryA/CarFac.html

銀座の日産ショールームの幻のフィガロー  ワオ！ タイムスリップだ！  1991年だ！  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010, at 4:51 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/03/07

"1991 Hibarigaoka, Shinbashi, Shiodome, Ginza, & Shibuya"

All of this batch of videos is from 1991 - the first one of an evening trip to Hibarigaoka, recorded on February 21st, 1991, and the rest of the videos all recorded on Saturday, March 9th, 1991.  March 9th, 1991 was a busy day - starting in Shinbashi, then moving over to Shiodome (an area within Shinbashi) and from there over to Ginza and then (by bus) to Shibuya, where I met up with some friends and went to a J-Pub for a few hours.

"Evening Trip to Hibarigaoka on February 21st, 1991"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_u3ad2bMkI

Riding an outgoing Seibu-Ikebukuro Line rush-hour(s) train to Hibarigaoka; climbing the old station stairs (nearly the entire station has since been rebuilt); going through the manual ticket gates with a real live human being taking tickets (ticket gate automation in Tokyo was just beginning at this time), and then walking through a bookstore and down a nearly deserted street.  It's hard to pin it down exactly, but there was definitely a different atmosphere in 1991 compared to 2010 - not surprisingly I guess, but having been here the whole time, there's an unanswerable question: When did this change occur?

1991年2月21日、西武池袋線の下り電車、ひばりが丘行き  東京  (Recorded on Thursday, February 21st, 1991, at 8:15 p.m.)


"Magic-Ring Hawker in Shinbashi on March 9th, 1991"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkt_eNnChOQ

Views of "SL Plaza" in front of Shinbashi Station in 1991, where a man hawking "magic rings" attracted a crowd of people trying to figure out how they worked.  Selling for Y300 each, he seemed to be fairly successful selling them (from what I could see while watching his performance).

If you look closely at the background in this video, there are several buildings that have since been torn down to make way for new structures.  Old solid-color Keihin-Tohoku Line trains can be seen passing by as well.

1991年3月9日、新橋駅前のSL広場のマジックリング一人販売  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 9th, 1991.)


"Shiodome Before the Highrises Were Built - March 9th, 1991"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jAZrHdm1F0

Shinbashi Shiodome area before construction of the current crop of highrise buildings began.  After ripping out the freight rail yard that used to be there, the space was used for things like the Ringling Brothers' Circus (which I saw here while it was in Tokyo), and a temporary neighborhood of model residential houses, and a tiny amusement park set up before construction began on the current highrise office towers that occupy the space now.

At the very beginning of the clip, if you pause it, you can read a billboard on top of a building that says "Better Road and Better Life" - which suggests that better (read "more" and "wider") roads leads to a better life.  Maybe for the people who want to drive through an area without stopping - definitely not for the people stuck living right by the noise and noxious gases of major roads - never mind the ugliness of wide deserts of lifeless asphalt everywhere in the city.

1991年3月9日、汐留ニューハウジングのモデルルーム（ビルを作る前の風景）  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 9th, 1991.)


"Jumping-Into-the-Frame Man in Ginza on March 9th, 1991"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB5TWzHs-Vk

Stretching up into someone's picture instead of ducking down to get out of it - this is something that happened to me often enough in 1991 Tokyo, that I suspect some television comedy show introduced it to people's imaginations and suddenly people were doing it all over the city.  It's kind of hard to imagine that a large number of people would independently get it into their heads to do this.  I didn't really care, but just found it odd that so many would suddenly be doing the same maneuver.

This was taken on the main road through Ginza, which was (still is?) shut off to fire-breathing machinery on weekends so people can freely walk around without the inconvenience, noise, and noxious gases of motor vehicles getting in the way.

1991年3月9日、銀座の週末のビデオ撮影に頑張って入る人  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 9th, 1991.)


"Magic Ring Hawker in Ginza on March 9th, 1991"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJv8tl6nPmU

Views of the weekend "Pedestrian Paradise" in Ginza where I ran into the same man I had seen hawking "magic rings" in Shinbashi earlier in the day.  At first I didn't realize it was the same guy, but figured it out after getting a good look at his face in Ginza, where he attracted a larger crowd of people than he had in Shinbashi.  Since he let several people attempt to get the ring off the coil themselves, many were intrigued and several ended up buying one (for Y300).

For anyone who has seen some of the Tora-san (Otoko-wa Tsurai-yo) movies, this shows that some people really were earning money hawking things in public places, as the Tora-san character does in the movie series.  What with the advent of the strong yen, a flood of imports, and Y100 shops, you see much less of this sort of thing now.

1991年3月9日、銀座の週末のマジックリング一人販売  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 9th, 1991.)


"Fun in Shibuya on Saturday Night, March 9th, 1991"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3xrkJUvOFI

Beginning on the inside of a bus I took from Roppongi to Shibuya, and then staying in Shibuya where I met friends in Hachiko Square, saw a cool street band, watched a Corvette drive past, had fun in a drinking place, and then went to Shibuya Station for one of the last trains home.

Watching this now, it does look like things were rocking in the "bubble era", although for the most part, I remember life being just ordinary days back then.  Certainly there was a lot of money flying around the economy then, so entertainment (restaurants, drinking places, concerts, etc.) all did really well, but it didn't really change how things were on a day-to-day basis so much.  Of course, now that the economy seems to be getting worse and worse, by contrast, it's looking increasingly like a very different era....

1991年3月9日、渋谷までバスを乗って、友達を会って飲み屋に行って...  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, March 9th, 1991.)

Lyle


2010/03/05

"Tokyo Tower Records, Shinjuku Street Performer, & Kokubunji Line"

Three clips - first of a visit to Tower Records in Shinjuku; then a look at a small crowd that had assembled to watch a street performer in Nishi-Shinjuku; and finally a look out the cab of a Seibu-Kokubunji Line train as it neared Kokubunji.

"Tower Records Lives On in Tokyo" (100302-1850)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm9veU6lUCw

Tower Records has ceased to exist in the land it began in, but it continues to do business in Tokyo.  This clip was taken on the J-Pop floor on the day a popular singer's new CD was released.

タワーレコードは、東京では生き残る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010, at 6:50 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Street Performer Doing... Something..." (100302-2201)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LwKdHJp1QE

I got tired of waiting in the cold before I figured out what this guy was doing.  It's interesting how big of a crowd assembles when someone is about to do something that people can't imagine - so they stop to find out what - whether it's interesting or not.  On the other hand, some really good street musical performances are often ignored because people can see what it is: "Someone playing music"....

ストレートパフォーマーが... 何かをする  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010, at 10:01 p.m.)


"Seibu-Kokubunji Line Train Nears Kokubunji" (100303-1344)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oav8kU1SYbQ

Looking out the right side of the cab of a Seibu-Kokubunji Line train as it nears Kokubunji Station (just before the two tracks merge into one).

西武国分寺線が国分寺駅に近くなる  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010, at 1:44 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/28b

"Yurakucho, Chuo Line View of Kanda, & Lonely Ogawa"

From narrow passages under the elevated railways in Yurakucho and walking down a Yurakucho Street as a standard pedestrian, to viewing nighttime Kanda through a Chuo Line window, and finally contemplating how lonely a late night burbs station is in cold February (in this case Ogawa).

"Passageways Under the Tracks in Yurakucho" (100223-1732)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG-TDHXvH9U

Walking through narrow passageways under the elevated railways in Yurakucho.  There are not so many of these types of places left.  New construction of glittering high-rises in Yurakucho has elevated the land prices in this area and thus the rents of the businesses operating here....

有楽町のガードの下の居酒屋など  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, at 5:32 p.m.)


"Yurakucho - Walking Towards Station" (100223-1736)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ-_zMIvX9E

Walking towards Yurakucho Station, moving in parallel with the JR elevated railways (to the right).

有楽町駅に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, at 5:36 p.m.)


"Chuo Line - Nighttime Window View of Kanda Area" (100223-1823)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80o0KCbUe7w

Looking out a left-side window of a Chuo Line train as it departs Kanda Station.

Kanda is where Japan started for me back in 1984 - as it's the first place I stayed (for a week at an old brick hotel since torn down).

夜の中央線の車両中から、出発しながら、神田駅あたりの風景を見る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, at 6:23 p.m.)


"Nighttime Ogawa Station - Mostly Empty" (100223-2229)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsgPUbHA7vA

In stark contrast to central hub stations on the Yamanote Line, like Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Tokyo, etc., 10:30 p.m. at a station out on a burbs line is a lonely place to be - with just people from each outbound train rushing out of the station quickly on the way home.

夜の誰もいない小川駅  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, at 10:29 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/28

"Empty Tobu-Tojo Line Train & Ikebukuro Back Streets"

Riding into Ikebukuro on a nearly empty Tobu-Tojo Line train, I exited the station on the west side and walked around in Nishi-Ikebukuro a bit - including into Ikebukuro's version of Kabukicho.  This batch of videos ends at Tokorozawa, while I was waiting for a train.

"Nearly Empty Tobu-Tojo Inbound Local" (100219-1932)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLqnaEsBEzg

Riding in a Tobu-Tojo Line local train, beginning with a look out the window at a passing Saikyo Line train on the neighboring JR tracks, then swiveling over for a look inside the almost empty train car - including looking over at other trains passing both to the right and left.

東武東上線の各駅停車の電車と左右の電車  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:32 p.m.)


"Nighttime Water Fountain in Nishi-Ikebukuro" (100219-1943)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixjvi6Va6bY

Nighttime water fountain in Nishi-Ikebukuro - which is in front of a concert hall (with other display spaces, etc. inside).  When the weather is warmer, this is a famous pick-up spot.

西池袋の噴水  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:43 p.m.)


"West Side of Ikebukuro Station" (100219-1944)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdxl4GrKMcU

Walking in Nishi-Ikebukuro towards the west side entrance of Ikebukuro Station.

西池袋の散歩、池袋駅に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:44 p.m.)


"Ikebukuro Station West Side" (100219-1946)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RclZZayCZd4

Starting by the entrance to Ikebukuro Station, and then walking over towards the drinking area of Ikebukuro.

池袋駅から、池袋の飲街に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:46 p.m.)


"Ikebukuro Drinking Area" (100219-1948)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EefoX44EHwY

Entering the drinking area of Ikebukuro - walking past a large truck sitting right in the middle of a road that typically has only pedestrians on it....  The two men in the cab were laughing - prompting me to imagine that they had taken a wrong turn somewhere and found themselves in what would feel something like being in a truck in the middle of a shopping mall (a typical comedy movie scenario).

池袋の飲街  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:48 p.m.)


"Back Streets in Ikebukuro" (100219-1950)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-kSWp7Sy90

Walking down a couple of back streets in Ikebukuro.  Not all-inclusive, but showing a few streets.

池袋の裏道  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:50 p.m.)


"Pedestrian Tunnel from West to East Side of Ikebukuro Station" (100219-1954)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=218P5w6T874

Walking through the pedestrian tunnel that goes under several rail lines and connects the west and east sides of Ikebukuro Station (going from the west side to the east side in this video).

池袋の横断歩道トンネル  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:54 p.m.)


"Seibu-Ikebukuro Line Ikebukuro Station Ticket Gates" (100219-2035)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5n_vUmE4Ns

Going through the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line ticket gates in Ikebukuro - the terminal station on the Tokyo side of the line.

池袋駅の西武池袋線の改札口を通る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 8:35 p.m.)


"New Type Ikebukuro Line Express Arriving at Ikebukuro Station" (100219-2040)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezLu4OaD8Pw

Waiting in line as a new type Seibu-Ikebukuro Line express pulls into the terminal station Ikebukuro.  Notice the diagonal steel supports in the station - I think these were retrofitted some time after the Kobe earthquake to make the building more earthquake resistant.

池袋駅の西武池袋線の新型急行列車がやって来ます  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 8:40 p.m.)


"Tokorozawa Station - Waiting for Train" (100219-2124)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li8T6Vc7CuQ

Waiting at Tokorozawa Station in the February cold for the next train to arrive.  It occurred to me while looking around the old station that I take it for granted now, but will likely feel nostalgic about it when they (eventually) reconstruct it in some squeaky new style.

所沢駅のホームで次の電車を待っている  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 9:24 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/27

"Oyama 'Happy Road', 'Yuza' Road, & Oyama Station"

A revisit to "Happy Road" in Oyama, where I used to live 24 years ago.  Considering how rapidly things change in Tokyo, the area was largely as I remember it, which was a little bit of a surprise actually - I've gotten so used to places I go back to in Tokyo being completely changed!  One change I was surprised about though, was they renamed the second shotengai (shopping street) there "Yuza" (but spelled quirkily as "YOU-ZA") from its original(?) "Sun Road".  What I had most expected to have changed though, Oyama Station, was amazingly the same - apart from its automated ticket gates (tickets were taken by a person before) and new retrofitted elevators and platform-to-platform crossover bridge (to go from one elevator to another - since there is no entrance/exit on the inbound platform).

"'Happy Road' in Oyama" (100219-1731)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQJUcImXLVg

Walking along the covered shopping street "Happy Road".  I used to live in this area, so it was a bit of a nostalgia trip to go back there.

大山のハッピーロード  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 5:31 p.m.)


"Yuza Side Street in Oyama" (100219-1848)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM-I2DSDIu4

A side street off of "YOU-ZA" (more properly spelled "Yuza", but the signs say "YOU-ZA"), which connects with "Happy Road" very near Oyama Station (on the Tobu-Tojo Line).  When I lived in the area, "Yuza" (遊座) was known as "Sun Road" (サンロード).  They may have changed it due to there being several "Sun" this and "Sun" that shopping centers in other areas of Kanto.  (The original name made sense though - since "Happy Road" is covered and "Sun Road" was/is out in the open.)

大山の遊座商店街 (ハッピーロードの近く)  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 6:48 p.m.)


"Crossing Tracks from Yuza to Happy Road" (100219-1853)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz2Kv0pYH4w

The railroad crossing here is the dividing line between the (open) "Yuza" shotengai (shopping street) and the (roofed) "Happy Road" shotengai.

大山の遊座とハッピーロードのつながるところ  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 6:53 p.m.)


"Oyama Happy Road Pedestrian Crossing" (100219-1900)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB5DN_Yq4b4

A 360 degree look at "Happy Road" and the railroad crossing from a pedestrian bridge near Oyama Station in Itabashi-ku.

大山のハッピーロードの横断歩道  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:00 p.m.)


"Oyama Station Evening Ticket Gates" (100219-1901)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtQPFlIwN7w

Evening commuters on the way home - coming through the ticket gates at Oyama Station, and a look at a kiosk just outside the ticket gates.

大山駅の改札口とキオスク  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:01 p.m.)


"Passing Express Train at Oyama Station" (100219-1903)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N143t1F42YU

An express train passes through Oyama Station.  Only local trains stop at Oyama, so there are several different types of express trains that pass straight through.

大山駅での通過急行  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:03 p.m.)


"Passing Stainless Steel Express at Oyama Station" (100219-1906)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAdn23sQWCk

Passing stainless steel outbound express train - seen from the outbound platform at Oyama Station.  There are several types of trains in service on the Tobu-Tojo Line.

大山駅での通過ステンレス急行  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:06 p.m.)


"Local Train Arriving at Oyama Station" (100219-1908)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wpqop7GUtg

Standing on one end of the outbound platform at Oyama Station as a local train comes in.  (The speed of the first cars passing by is an indication of the length of the ten-car train.)  I stayed through the door-open & door-close period and recorded the doors-about-to-close bell, which I think is unchanged from when I lived there 24 years ago.

大山駅の各駅電車がやって来ます  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:08 p.m.)


"Inbound Express Passing Oyama" (100219-1927)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik4uZLMPY5w

A 360 degree look from the inbound platform of Oyama Station - including watching a white (with two-tone blue stripe) express train pass by.  (I don't know the proper name for that type of train car, but it's one of the older (the oldest maybe?) types on the Tobu-Tojo line, and was in use 24 years ago back when I used this line every day.)

大山駅の上り急行電車  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 7:27 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/26b

"Takadanobaba, Mejiro, and Sugamo Stations"

A set of video clips basically covering a trip from Takadanobaba Station to Itabashi-Kuyakucho-mae Station, and then a couple of short views of the area right by Itabashi-Kuyakucho-mae Station.  Taken between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m., the trains and streets are not crowded.

"Yamanote Line - at Takadanobaba Station" (100219-1006)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNrqpLZomJw

The sights and sounds of a Yamanote Line train stopped at Takadanobaba Station, including the doors-about-to-close melody.

山手線の高田馬場駅  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 10:06 a.m.)


"Yamanote Line at Mejiro Station as Various Trains Pass" (100219-1008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMeWkbi2u04

Various trains pass as the Yamanote Line train pulls into and stops at Mejiro Station.

山手線の目白駅と通る電車  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 10:08 a.m.)


"Yamanote Line Side View as Train Leaves Mejiro Station" (100219-1009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PB3BugqVLg

A right side view out the window of a Yamanote Line train as it leaves Mejiro Station and heads for the next stop, Ikebukuro.  At the end of the clip is a brief look inside the train.

山手線  目白駅から出発、池袋駅へ向かう  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 10:09 a.m.)


"Sugamo Yamanote Line Platform to Toei-Mita Line Platform" (100219-1016)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MxzggJx1HU

Beginning with stepping off of a Yamanote Line train at Sugamo Station, this shows the route through Sugamo Station (part of which was under reconstruction when this clip was taken) and down into the tunnels to take the Toei-Mita Line subway.

I was surprised to see that the train was a Tokyu Corporation train, but taking a look at my train map, I see that some of the Tokyu-Meguro Line trains seamlessly connect with the Toei-Mita Line trains, so naturally there are some Tokyu Railways (they operate several lines) trains running out on the Toei-Mita Line tracks.  In this video, you can clearly see the Tokyu Corporation logo on the outside of the train.

I used to use the Toei-Mita Line (about 15 years ago I think it was), and it didn't have the safety walls between the platform and the rails back then.

巣鴨駅の山手線から、都営三田線までの乗り換え道  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 10:16 a.m.)


"Boarding Toei-Mita Line Train at Sugamo Station" (100219-1019)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6pStgUU4VI

Waiting at Sugamo Station for a Toei-Mita Line train and boarding it when it comes in.  (Notice the silver and red "Tokyu Corporation" marks on the side of the train.)  After climbing aboard, looking down the middle of the inside of the half-empty train and listening to the announcements.

巣鴨駅の都営三田線 (東急の車両)  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 10:19 a.m.)


"View in front of Itabashi-Kuyakucho-mae Station" (100219-1029)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36nlAom7-HA

The view just in front of the entrance/exit for Itabashi-Kuyakucho-mae Station on the Toei-Mita Line.  (Notice the elevated expressways in both directions.)

都営三田線の板橋区役所前駅  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 10:29 a.m.)


"Main Road Beneath Elevated Expressway" (100219-1039)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvAx0xSmQws

Looking both directions on a main road running below an elevated expressway in Itabashi-ku.  (The Toei-Mita Line runs beneath this road.)

高速道路と高速道路の下の大道路  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 10:39 a.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/26

"Just Another Evening in Shinjuku"

For one reason or another... and another... and another, I've spent time in Shinjuku on and off ever since 1984, soon after I stepped off of that 747.  And still it continues.  Here are a few video clips from February 23rd, 2010.

"Shinjuku Rush-Hour South Exit Ticket Gate Area" (100223-1850)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBaIkeOIwYA

Walking through the crowded (6:50 p.m.) area near the south exit/entrance ticket gates.

新宿駅南改札口あたり  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, at 6:50 p.m.)


"Food Stall, etc., in Front of West Side of Shinjuku Station" (100223-2137)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCAjrZfviBo

There seemed to be a lot of students with travel bags heading to the station.  They may have just finished classes and are headed out somewhere for spring break?

新宿駅の西側  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, at 9:37 p.m.)


"Omoide Yokocho - February 23rd, 2010" (100223-2139)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si9UV429SdU

Another walk through Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho - a time slip area that is increasingly becoming a tourist destination.

新宿の思い出横丁  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, at 9:39 p.m.)


"Crosswalk & Background Trains" (100223-2140)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvqlfzRPIe4

As people hurry across a large pedestrian crossing, a couple of trains rumble by - providing a backdrop of sight and sound....

新宿の横断歩道と電車  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, at 9:40 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/22

"Ikebukuro Station Area - February 22nd, 2010"

These videos are the non-music bits that fit in-between the music videos I posted to my "Tokyo Art & Music" blog, here:
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/

All of them were taken on a Friday night in mid-February 2010.

"Ikebukuro Station, East Side, Friday Night" (100219-2017)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI80jk4lfas

Walking along the wide, long sidewalk that runs in front of the east side of Ikebukuro Station... coming upon a couple of street musicians in the process.

池袋駅前東口  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 8:17 p.m.)


"Ikebukuro - Looking for the Next Band" (100219_2022)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU3GgLkpfKw

Looking for the next street band - and homing in on jazz sounds coming from down the sidewalk (which is why I make a U-turn in the middle of the crosswalk).

池袋駅前東口の次のストリートバンドの探し  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 8:22 p.m.)


"Pedestrian Island - Jazz Music Background" (100219-2029)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5ibtOgfLfY

As the traffic island band is about to get back in gear, the street-crossers migrate across the wide street to the sounds of the jazz band just down the street.

池袋駅東口前の横断歩道  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 8:29 p.m.)


"Ikebukuro Side Street" (100219-2031)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nSLSTXLrnI

This street used to be more interesting - before it had dead zones with no shops, but it still retains a little of its old feel.  I'm beginning to worry about the future of Tokyo.  Modern high-rise buildings may be nice, but an entire city full of them would be really boring.  Tokyo seems to be on a small-building-eradication binge.  I hope some of the older buildings can survive - as having pockets of smaller & older buildings here and there has been one of the attractions of living in Tokyo.

池袋駅東口側の細い道  でっかいビルだらけは、つまらないので、古い小さい建物が少し残った方がいいと思います  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 8:31 p.m.)


"Homeward-Bound Workers - Ikebukuro" (100219-2033)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_2BakUjh_g

8:30 p.m. - and people stream towards Ikebukuro Station to begin their rail journey home.  Some straight from work, and some from restaurants and drinking places.  8:30 being relatively early though, most are likely coming straight from work.

池袋駅東口側  仕事が終わって、うちへ向かう人たち  東京  (Recorded on Friday, February 19th, 2010, at 8:33 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/21b

"Tachikawa Station Area"

Other than short clip of the Seibu-Kokubunji Line, all clips are of the station area around Tachikawa Station.

"Seibu-Kokubunji Line at Takanodai" (100203-1042)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMGqe_QrARE

View of Seibu-Kokubunji Line train coming into Takanodai Station - then the view as the camera & I climb aboard (providing a short view of the inside of the train).

Background noise:  Military jets fly overhead.

鷹の台駅で、西武国分寺線の電車がやって来ます  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 10:42 a.m.)


"Tachikawa Station, South Exit" (100203-1106)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va2wNdYJg3I

Looking around on the elevated walkway in front of the south entrance/exit of Tachikawa Station - experimenting with different angles.

立川駅南口の... 色々.  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 11:06 a.m.)


"Tachikawa Station, North Exit" (100203-1239)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWqHIwj2SMU

Riding the outside escalator from the elevated walkway (connected to Tachikawa Station) down to street level - a main street with tall (for Tachikawa) buildings on both sides.

立川駅北口のエスカレーター道など  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 12:39 p.m.)


"Tama Monorail - View from the Ground" (100203-1259)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqm3lteVfSs

Watching a Tama Monorail train pass by from the ground.  The train cars look really tall from the ground, but the passenger compartment is normal size - the extra height comes from the need to wrap around the single concrete road ("rail") that the train runs on.

These monorail trains don't run very fast, but they are high up and the slow speed makes them a good platform for photography.

多摩モノレールの立川北駅の近く、道から、モノレールを通る姿を見る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 12:59 p.m.)


"Approaching North Entrance to Tachikawa Station" (100203-1313)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYI1Bkzar6A

Walking toward the north entrance of Tachikawa Station.  The woman handing out brochures is from HIS, a popular discount travel agency.

立川駅の北口の近く  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 1:13 p.m.)


"Tachikawa Station - Outside & Inside the Ticket Gates" (100203-1316)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZQqcRPI1XE

Within Tachikawa Station, starting on the outside of the ticket gates, and then proceeding through the gates, over to the stairway for the inbound Chuo Line platform, and then starting down the stairs....

立川駅の北口の近く  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 1:16 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/21a

"Orange 201 Series Chuo Line Trains / Tachikawa Station Area"

Taking a good look at one of the old orange 201-series Chuo Line trains - one of the last (or even the very last one?) still being used on the Chuo Line.  The 201-series has been almost completely replaced with the newer E233-series trains, which could have been nice, except for two horrible aspects to them:  No air "leaks", and thus poor quality stale air, and the curse of the early-21st century in Tokyo - inane and ultra-irritating poor quality recorded English announcements - carefully designed to drive people stark-raving-mad.  And so a ride in one of the old 201 trains is a wonderful experience:  "Air!  I can breathe!" & "No tortuous horribly inane English announcements!  Bliss!!  Banzai!!!".

"201 Series Chuo Line at Kokubunji - February 2010" (100203-1049)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjWCdcVD0F0

One of the last 201 series Chuo Line trains still in service on the Chuo Line pulls into Kokubunji Station, heading west towards Tachikawa.

The 201 series has separate throttle and brake controls that must be a lot more rewarding to operate than the new type controls (on the E233-series, etc.), which just has one lever to push forward and pull back.

There are some detail views in this - such as of one of the side vents in the train cars, that were an excellent idea, but were shut off permanently from the inside many years ago (probably to save time in shutting down the trains at night), as well as a view of one of the side destination signs.  [As for vents - there were still operational openable vents in the ceiling - a great idea and very much appreciated on many an evening coming come on a sardine run!]

A large part of the ambiance of a train is in the noises it makes - such as the air-compressor pump that you can hear as I & the camera walk past it - the sound of it running - chug-chug-chug - at first, and then the sounds it makes as it shuts off.

中央線の201車両が国分寺駅に到着  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 10:49 a.m.)


"Tokkyu Train Passes 201 Series Chuo Line at Kokubunji" (100203-1051)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_V4hrsvMGI

Views of a tokkyu reserved-seat train zooming past a waiting 201 series orange Chuo Line train stopped at Kokubunji Station.

中央線の201車両が国分寺駅で待っている時、特急が通る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 10:51 a.m.)


"201 Series Chuo Line Manual Operation - Kokubunji to Nishi-Kokubunji" (100203-1053)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN9UtdS5YCo

Looking westward from the JR Chuo Line platform; while a 201 series orange train waits on the left, a yellow Seibu-Kokubunji Line train leaves Kokubunji Station off to the right, and as the Seibu train accelerates away,  a newer E233 series inbound Chuo Line train comes from the opposite direction, slowing to a stop at Kokubunji Station (at another platform).

Then the station doors-about-to-close melody plays, the doors close, and the 201-series train gets underway - running from Kokubunji Station to Nishi-Kokubunji Station.  There are also views of the inside of the train - which is not crowded at all - unusual for the Chuo Line!

Sounds:  Being a pre-recording train, an actual human being (gasp!) makes live announcements from the rear of the train about the next stops, etc.  Train rides here were vastly more enjoyable when human beings made the announcements - the recordings (especially the horrible English ones on most lines) detract from the journey.  If nothing else, it would be great if they'd either discontinue the half-speed, over-pronounced, over-intonated, too-loud, ultra-irritating English announcements, or at least make new recordings with someone with a nice voice who speaks genuine English at a normal speed, and keep the volume down at a reasonable level....

国分寺駅から、西国分寺駅まで、中央線の201車両の前から、景色や運転手の電車操作を見る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 10:53 a.m.)


"201 Series Chuo Line Manual Operation - Kunitachi to Tachikawa" (100203-1059)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmpR2xB1wdA

The Chuo Line - running from Kunitachi to Tachikawa on a newly elevated stretch of the rails.  Views of the driver running the manually operated train, and then the driver turning over control of the train to a new driver in Tachikawa.

国立駅から、立川駅まで、中央線の201車両の前から、景色や運転手の電車操作  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 10:59 a.m.)


"Orange 201 Series Chuo Line Train Departs Tachikawa" (100203-1102)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikFrpaphjEc

Standing on the end of the platform at Tachikawa Station, watching all ten cars of an outbound/westbound orange 201-series Chuo Line train accelerate out of the station.  As the day approaches when there will be none of the 201-series trains left on the Chuo Line, I'm getting increasingly nostalgic about that model - for a number of reasons:

 - I've spent a lot of time over the past 25 years riding in those train cars - which were still fairly new back in 1984, when I began using the line.

 - There are no evil and ultra-irritating recordings on the 201 series trains.

 - They have vastly better ventilation than the new ones.  The new ones were probably designed with the engineering goal of not "leaking" air - and in that they succeeded.  The result?  The air generally seems stale, uncomfortable, and slightly toxic.  On crowded trains, If they don't pump in fresh air, then air "leaking" is a good thing!  It provides oxygen to breathe!

 - Cool sounds - the old trains seem more like living things with the various noises they make.

立川駅から、中央線の201シリーズ車両西へ出発  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 11:02 a.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/20

"Shibuya, Kichijoji, & Kokubunji"

Trains, trains, and more trains.  Not a complaint - it's a great thing to be able to go anywhere in a huge city like Tokyo have no need of a car and no car expenses (parking, gasoline, maintenance, car-related taxes, etc.).

"Shibuya Station - Between the Yamanote & Inokashira Lines" (100210-1833)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II_9nGWpXj4

Starting by the exit gates for the Ginza Line, I walk down the stairs leading to the passage that goes past the Yamanote Line ticket gates and then on over to the Inokashira Line.  Being around 6:30 on a weekday evening, it's typically busy.

渋谷駅、東横線と山手線の間  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 6:33 p.m.)


"Headed for Inokashira Line in Shibuya" (100210-1836)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4fxBMP3Y2g

Walking through the ticket gates to the Inokashira Line at Shibuya Station, and getting in line for the next express, since the one about to leave is already quite crowded.

渋谷駅、井の頭線  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 6:36 p.m.)


"Standing in Line for Inokashira Line Express" (100210-1837)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh9VMQkylzU

While waiting for the next Inokashira Line express, people in a hurry rush up to get on the one just about to leave.

渋谷駅、次の井の頭線の急行を待っている  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 6:37 p.m.)


"Kichijoji Transfer - Inokashira Line to Chuo Line" (100210-1906)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlwFCuxk5fE

After getting off of an Inokashira Line train in Kichijoji (that I boarded in Shibuya after waiting in line for the second one so I could sit down), I walk through the Inokashira Line ticket gates, go down the escalator, and over to and through the Chuo Line ticket gates on my way to the Chuo Line.

吉祥寺駅で、井の頭線から、中央線に乗り換え  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 7:06 p.m.)


"Boarding Seibu-Kokubunji Line in Kokubunji" (100210-1925)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFUORuM4ct8

Watching a Seibu-Kokubunji Line train come in and then climbing aboard.  Living such scenes is like breathing air for typical Tokyo residents.  Still - in spite of the world's best train system, Tokyo also has a bad case of internal combustion engine disease and is still busily destroying ever more of the city so it can be paved over to make large gray paths for the machines - at the expense of quality of life for the humans living in the city.

国分寺駅で、西武国分寺線を乗るところ  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 7:25 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/18

"Hibiya Subway Stairs, Yotsuya, Hatanodai, & Shibuya Transfer"

Video clips from Hibiya Park, then a subway entrance across from Hibiya Park, and then Yotsuya (from a coffee shop), Hatanodai Station, and Shibuya.

"Hibiya Park Tennis Courts" (100210-1320)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qfa_Ni-pFsE

A quick look at the tennis courts in Hibiya Park one Wednesday afternoon.

(I tried to remind myself that it was great to be outside, but I was still steaming from a meeting with a pack of evil lying corporate scum.  Time will heal the wounds - I hope.)

日比谷公園テニスコート  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 1:20 p.m.)


"Hibiya Subway Diving" (100210-1333)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gBbL5-0fYs

Diving into a subway entrance in Yurakucho 1-chome, across the street from Hibiya Park.  The narrow passage down into the earth is intriguing, but once down there, I always long to be back up on the surface of the earth.

日比谷公園の近くの地下鉄入り口（有楽町一丁目）  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 1:33 p.m.)


"Tully's Coffee Shop in Yotsuya" (100210-1440)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IMR-6pmZd8

I thought the view towards the door from where I was sitting in the Yotsuya Tully's coffee shop was interesting.  This is probably better as a still picture, but as a video clip, you get the jazz music soundtrack and some of the ambiance of the space, with the mix of voices and music.  The major missing components being the smell of coffee and the cozy warm temperature inside, contrasting with the February chill outside.

四谷のチユーリーズ喫茶店  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 1:40 p.m.)


"Changing Trains at Hatanodai Station" (100210-1800)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTEiHRZPzS8

Changing trains in Hatanodai - from the Ikegami Line to the Oimachi Line.  The video begins with an interior view of an Ikegami Line train and the walk down the connecting passageway to the base of the escalator that leads to the elevated platform of the Oimachi Line.

旗の台駅で池上線から大井町線に乗り換え  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 6:00 p.m.)


"Boarding Oimachi Line Train at Hatanodai Station" (100210-1801)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzlWrJ1nwJo

Riding the escalator up to the elevated platform of the Oimachi Line - the clip stops just before the cameraman (cough) gets on the train.

旗の台駅で大井町線の電車を乗る時  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 6:01 p.m.)


"Jiyugaoka Oimachi Line Platform Sidelines" (100210-1808)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=envYrvoVC0E

Taking a quick break on a platform bench on the Jiyugaoka Station Oimachi Line platform - watching the train doors close, the train get on its way, and people walking along the platform.

自由が丘駅の大井町線のホームで人々が通る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 6:08 p.m.)


"Jiyugaoka Station Toyoko Line Escalator" (100210-1810)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSjuZaadLRI

Riding the escalator at Jiyugaoka Station up from the Oimachi Line platform to the Toyoko Line platform.  As I reach the platform, a recorded announcement is just beginning that announces the imminent arrival of a local train that directly connects to (becomes) the Hibiya Line.

Several lines are set up this way, so that if you pick the right train, you can start on a surface train leading towards central Tokyo, and the train is routed straight into a subway tunnel and automatically becomes a different line.  So all you have to do is stay seated and watch for your subway stop.  At the border station between two different lines, the driver and conductor of one line get off and the driver and conductor of the next line that the (same) train becomes get on.

自由が丘駅の東横線のホームまでのエスカレーター  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 6:10 p.m.)


"Arriving Toyoko Line Train at Jiyugaoka" (100210-1811)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks3thVsjeuU

As an outbound Toyoko Line train comes into the station in one direction, an inbound Toyoko/Hibiya Line train comes in in the other.  The subway-bound train itself is one of the subway line trains.

自由が丘駅の東横線のホームの電車  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 6:11 p.m.)


"Express Train Arriving at Jiyugaoka Station" (100210-1815)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr7xrwaB_rI

Walking up the platform at Jiyugaoka Station to get to the front of a Toyoko Line express.  (The train that is stopped on the left side of the platform is a local.)

Midway up the platform, the little girl yelling loud enough into her cell phone to be heard in Osaka is saying "It's platform [track] number six, right?"

Note: A sort-of direct translation.  99% of the time, if someone tells you that a translation from Japanese to English is "a direct translation", they are bloody lying!  Most phrases in Japanese cannot be directly translated into English - and vice-versa.  The two languages are radically different and any translation requires interpretation, and no two translators can agree on the best way to translate something.  Some companies (stupidly) have translations back-translated to see if they are accurate.  While this can ascertain whether content is there or not, it cannot verify or deny the very important between-the-lines substance of text, and if the back-translator is making the same vocabulary conversion mistakes (much easier to do than you would think), it can actually mask huge errors.

自由が丘駅の東横線の急行がやって来る  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010, at 6:15 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/16

"Shinjuku - February 9th, 2010"

Typical evening scenes in Shinjuku, from the Chuo Line platform to the streets around the various entrances/exits to the station.

"Shinjuku Chuo Line Platform - 6:37 p.m., Feb. 9th, 2010"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwCFv-Lyecw

Since some of the Chuo Line trains split into two parts for some branches of the line, trains for those runs have cab cars in the middle of the ten car train, so they can (down the line) split into one six-car train and one four-car train.  The video starts with a look into one of the empty cabs in the middle of an outbound Chuo Line train as it's stopped at the platform in Shinjuku.  From there, the camera pans out to the platform and I walk down along the train through the evening platform crowd.

The announcements:  First, the recorded female voice politely says that the doors for the train on track number 12 (except they mistakenly call it "platform 12" here, even though there are two tracks per platform) are going to close - so be careful.  Then a man comes on live (from somewhere in the middle of the platform) saying that the doors for track-12 are going to close, and asks that passengers not force their way on at this point.  Then the doors close and as the train gets under way, he says that the train is departing, so please stay behind the yellow line.

新宿駅、西行きの中央線  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 6:37 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Station - Upper Level" (100209-1838)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35issjrwv68

Walking through the upper part of Shinjuku Station (the south exits are above the tracks, while the west and east exits are below the tracks), then through the south exit, and out onto the winter nighttime street.

Incidentally, notice that the pedestrian bridge (towards the end of the clip) is still lit up in blue, so I guess that's permanent and not just part of the Christmas & News Year's lighting for the Southern Terrace.

新宿駅、上の南口エアリア  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 6:38 p.m.)


"Nishi-Shinjuku - Near Yodobashi Camera" (100209-1841)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDttOIee7hM

Walking through Nishi-Shinjuku 1-chome - heading for Yodobashi Camera, where I've gone for most of the machines I've bought over the years, including my MP3 player, refrigerator, camera, etc.

西新宿、ヨドバシカメラの近く  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 6:41 p.m.)


"Nishi-Shinjuku - Main Street & Drink Street" (100209-2157)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmynV4_-YC8

Beginning near the west exit of Shinjuku Station, and then walking through the narrow drink street Omoide-yokocho, and then across the main street and under the rail bridge.

西新宿、大通りから細い思い出横丁を通して、鉄道橋の下まで  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 9:57 p.m.)


"Shinjuku 3-Chome - Nearing East Entrance" (100209-2214)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12CtST_fEaY

Walking with the river of people heading for the east entrance of Shinjuku Station, and - eventually - home.  The average travel time to home for most people is around an hour.

新宿三丁目、新宿駅の東口に近づく  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 10:14 p.m.)


"Shinjuku - Between East & South Entrances" (100209-2217)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s-WISrIHb8

Walking between the east and south entrances of Shinjuku Station.

There was a band that I just missed seeing over near Kabukicho, and they told me that they would be setting up again later that evening over by the south entrance of Shinjuku Station, so I walked over, but when I didn't see them after a short wait, decided I wanted to go home, so I didn't see them again - maybe I'll catch them another day.

新宿駅の東口と南口の間の散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 10:17 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/15b

"Ginza Line, Ginza & Yurakucho Couple"

A continuation of February 9th, 2010 - with this batch of videos beginning at Nihonbashi Station, where I transferred to the Ginza Line (from the Tozai Line), and then a couple of clips from Ginza and a couple from neighboring Yurakucho.

"Nihonbashi - Getting on Ginza Line" (100209-1338)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhOiKN1hpH4

Walking onto the Ginza Line platform at Nihonbashi Station just as a Ginza Line train arrives.  The Ginza Line is Tokyo's oldest subway - which began operation in December 1927, running between Asakusa and Ueno.  (The first surface railway - between Yokohama and Shinbashi - began operation in 1872.)

日本橋駅で銀座線に乗る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 1:38 p.m.)


"Edge of Ginza 4-Chome Walk" (100209-1345)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNZAjwrLEbE

Walking along the street that divides Ginza 4-chome and Ginza 5-chome.  The long white barrier on the left is yet another construction site.  Tokyo - the city that (seemingly) has outlawed old buildings.  Anything older than a few decades is considered not fit to exist and is promptly torn down to be replaced by yet another new high-rise building.  New is nice, but a little more old mixed in with the new would be nice....

銀座四丁目の散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 1:45 p.m.)


"Ginza Okuno Building Original Round Window" (100209-1403)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOv65GJZDo

A functionally opening original round window in the over seven-decade-old Okuno Building is quite rare, so I thought it would be good to record it for posterity's sake.  The racket in the background is the construction of the large building going up immediately behind the Okuno Building.  (The "view" from the round window is of the building next door, and yes, you can reach out and touch it - it's that close.)

銀座奥野ビルの丸い窓  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 2:03 p.m.)


"Passing Shinkansen Trains Near Yurakucho Station" (100209-1653)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RXaBOhQd40

As I approach Yurakucho Station, two Shinkansen trains pass by overhead.

有楽町駅に近づきながら、新幹線が通る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 4:53 p.m.)


"Couple Crossing Street in Yurakucho" (100209-1815)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCHedf6CuFo

As I head towards Yurakucho Station, I find myself behind a couple... and pondering why it is that this scene seems more fitting in Yurakucho than in many other parts of Tokyo - possibly due to the historical romance of nearby Ginza?

有楽町駅前の交差点を渡る二人  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 6:15 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/15

"Shimo-Ochiai, Takadanobaba, & the Tozai Line"

Part of my travels on February 9th, 2010 - starting at Higashi-Murayama, where I took a Seibu-Shinjuku Line train to Shimo-Ochiai Station, and then continued on to Takadanobaba, where I looked around for a bit and then went underground and got on an eastbound Tozai Line train.

"Waiting for Seibu-Shinjuku Line Train at Higashi-Murayama Station" (100209-1004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tymAr4_adFo

10:04 a.m. - just past the morning rush, waiting for a Seibu-Shinjuku Line train at Higashi-Murayama Station.  Riding the morning trains at this time is a whole different experience from the crush-rush hours before this.  I was even able to get a seat on this train....

東村山駅で西武新宿線の電車を待っている  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 10:04 a.m.)


"Crossing Near Shimo-Ochiai Station" (100209-1044)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2ljDmUDwyc

Waiting for a train to pass at a crossing near Shimo-Ochiai Station on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line.  Section by section, ground tracks are being elevated, but there are still a fair number of non-elevated surface tracks here and there throughout Tokyo.

西武新宿線の下落合駅の近くの踏切  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 10:44 a.m.)


"Seseragi-no-Sato Park in Kami-Ochiai" (100209-1047)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBH7hjYBT_0

February 9th 2010 was unseasonably warm, and so when I walked through Seseragi-no-Sato Park, the many chirping sparrows there made it feel like spring had arrived.  This park may not look very exciting, but in Tokyo, even small areas of green like this are greatly appreciated!

下落合駅の近くの上落合一丁目のせせらぎの里公園  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 10:47 a.m.)


"Takadanobaba Stroll - Takadanobaba Station Bound" (100209-1306)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdYQkja8YnI

Walking down the main street in Takadanobaba that forms the boundary between Takadanobaba 3-chome and Takadanobaba 4-chome - heading towards Takadanobaba Station.

高田馬場三丁目 - 高田馬場駅に向かう  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 1:06 p.m.)


"Wide and Narrow Streets Near Takadanobaba Station" (100209-1308)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLKidi6GpAc

Continuing down the street towards Takadanobaba Station, the station platform - which is on a bridge over the road - comes into view as the station melodies and announcements begin to be heard.  The train stations used to all be like this - open to the air and providing an unhindered view in both directions.  Increasingly though, stations are enclosed - which make them warmer in winter and safer, but also more sterile somehow, and more boring.

Just as I'm almost across the street on my way to the station, I decide to make a U-turn and explore a narrow street running off at an angle from the station.  As I do so, a Yamanote Line train pulls into the station above.

高田馬場三丁目 - 歩きながら、高田馬場駅に向かう  駅の近くになると、細い道を探検する  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 1:08 p.m.)


"Takadanobaba Narrow Student Street" (100209-1310)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YufL3_V3h6Q

Walking along a narrow diagonal street in a steady stream of students.  It should go without saying that the number of students on streets like this depends on the time of day and the time of year, but in Tokyo, it's easy to forget, since there are always people out and about most times of the day and very nearly all times of the year.

As there are an amazing number of all kinds of schools scattered about all over Tokyo, the effect of the students from one or another school being out of school is often not noticed due to other schools still holding classes, not to mention all the after-hours activities students are involved in on and off campus, and the juku (cram) schools, which operate late into the night.

高田馬場三丁目 - 細い道の学生散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 1:10 p.m.)


"Takadanobaba Station - From JR to Subway" (100209-1315)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU-cDBIct88

Takadanobaba Station - from the main ticket gates, to the area in front of the station, and then down the stairs into the subway up to the ticket gates for the Tozai Line.

高田馬場駅、JRから、地下鉄の東西線まで  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 1:15 p.m.)


"Tozai Line - Platform Wait & Ride in Tunnel" (100209-1320)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFkmqoRollE

Starting on the platform of the Tozai Line at Takadanobaba Station.  First a westbound train comes in on the other side and then an eastbound train comes in, that I board.  The camera stays on as the train enters and runs through the tunnel.

A highly irritating thing I noticed on this ride on the Tozai Line (that they never used to do) is that they wait *after* the doors are closed before starting the train.  The old process was: 1) Close the doors, 2) Go!.  The new process is 1) Close the doors, 2) Wait... (why?), and finally 3) Go.  There's probably some new safety procedure that's been implemented stating something like "Wait a full five seconds after closing the doors before starting the train."  Hey guys - why not two or three seconds?  That's enough to see if the doors are clear.  Or better still, instead of a blanket time-wasting long interval, why not just have a rule that states "Double check that the doors are clear before starting the train", which would prevent wasting time at every station when its not crowded.

What's that?  What's a few seconds?  On trips within Tokyo with multiple train rides and dozens of stops, adding in five seconds of wasted time at each and every station adds up.  Tokyo's trains *used to* run like clockwork, but due to inane overly cautions procedures being introduced, the times the trains fall off schedule are increasing.  Do I see car drivers shaking their heads?  Yeah... right.  Like you guys are tranquil and happy when you miss a light!  There's almost never enough time in a day - it's better not to waste it!  If nothing else, the feeling of sitting there for no good reason is just plain irritating!  We have brains!  Let's use 'em!

Incidentally, this clip contains a lot of audio information, such as platform announcements (male voice for westbound trains and female voice for eastbound), the sound of an approaching train in the distance, the rush of the train coming into the station, the announcement inside the train, the various tunnel and motor noises as the train progresses (scrapping noises as the train goes through a tight right curve, etc.), both recorded and live announcements, etc.

高田馬場駅 (地下鉄の東西線)  待っている時間から、トンネルの中に走るまで  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, at 1:20 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/02/05

"Azamino (1991), Tama-Monorail, Shinjuku & Tachikawa (2010)"

I was looking for something else when I came upon a video I took back in 1991 of the area around Azamino Station (taken while I was waiting for a friend who lived there to arrive) - so I decided to toss that up on the screen.

After that are a few fairly high definition clips of a 2010 ride on the Tama-Monorail.  Since it's out in western Tokyo, away from the high rises of central Tokyo, the view is pretty good from the train.

And the last two clips are of Shinjuku - one of Tanaka Aya performing live in front of the west side of Shinjuku Station on a very cold February night, and the other of a walk under a JR railway bridge.

"Azamino Station Area at Night - January 8th, 1991"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4COh1GqzYg

Riding the Denentoshi Line out to Azamino Station, I walked around the station area taking video of a grocery store, people lining up to buy train passes, people getting on a bus, etc., while waiting for a friend to arrive.  (At the beginning of the video, there are some visual glitches - which are good examples of the kind of problems I used to encounter with 8mm analogue video tape.)

While waiting, I saw a guy get nabbed by the one man there to manually watch the ticket gates.  These days, to save money, railways have cut back on personnel and typically there is no one there to grab cheaters.

In the grocery store, you can see the local method of counting money twice to make sure there are no mistakes, and how the change is manually pulled from the cash register drawer one coin at a time.  These days, the correct change just drops out of the machine, so it doesn't need to be manually counted.

1991年の一月のあざみ野駅あたり  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 1991, at night.)


"Tama-Monorail - From Takamatsu to Tachikawa-kita (Front View)" (100201-1047)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnIH2Dcm7a0

Tama-Monorail trip from Takamatsu Station to Tachikawa-Kita Station.

多摩モノレールの旅  高松駅から立川北駅まで  東京  (Recorded on Monday, February 1st, 2010, at 10:47 a.m.)


"Tama-Monorail trip from Tachikawa-Kita to Tachikawa-Minami (Front View)" (100201-1050)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygl-gBkVVSk

Tama-Monorail trip from Tachikawa-Kita Station to Tachikawa-Minami Station.

多摩モノレールの旅  立川北駅から立川南駅まで  東京  (Recorded on Monday, February 1st, 2010, at 10:50 a.m.)


"Tama-Monorail trip from Shibasaki-Taiikukan to Koshukaido" (100201-1053)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJxpHhP_Chw

Tama-Monorail trip - from Shibasaki-Taiikukan Station to Koshukaido Station.

多摩モノレールの旅  柴崎体育館駅から甲州街道駅まで  東京  (Recorded on Monday, February 1st, 2010, at 10:53 a.m.)


"Tama-Monorail - From Koshukaido to Manganji" (100201-1056)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w12XRjKKiGQ

Tama-Monorail trip from Koshukaido Station to Manganji Station.

多摩モノレールの旅  甲州街道駅から万願寺駅まで  東京  (Recorded on Monday, February 1st, 2010, at 10:56 a.m.)


"Tachikawa One-Look Image Writer" (100203-1310)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2VQeGL5sqE

The man in this video had a sign saying that he will write something about someone from just one quick look at them.  The pair of women (mother & daughter?) seemed pleased with the result.

立川イメージライターは、人を一目で感想をさらさら書く  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, at 1:10 p.m.)


"Tanaka Aya Live in Nishi Shinjuku - 22-2-2" (100202-2150)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwdVOa7AbdI

One rather cold evening, as I walked up to the west exit of Shinjuku Station, I came upon Tanaka Aya performing live in front of the station.  Her website is:
http://ameblo.jp/aya-tanaka

西側の新宿駅前で、ストリート音楽家田中亜弥を聞きました。（平成二十二年二月二日）  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010, at 9:50 p.m.)


"Night Path Under Shinjuku Rail Bridge" (100202-2201)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umIAi0Nr_jY

Walking under the rail bridge for Ikebukuro-bound Yamanote and Saikyo Line (etc.) trains (at 10:00 p.m.), and then onto the plaza in front of Seibu-Shinjuku Station.

新宿駅近く鉄道橋の下と西武新宿駅前プラザ（平成二十二年二月二日）  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010, at 10:01 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/01/30

"Ginza, Yurakucho, & Shinjuku"

"Ginza 3-Chome Cross Street Sidewalk" (100126-1344)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLg2WEMI8x4

Looking up at some unusual buildings in Ginza 3-chome while walking down a cross street.  Being a clear winter day, the sky is much bluer than is typical in the summer.

銀座三丁目の変わった建物  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 1:44 p.m.)


"Old & New Buildings in Ginza" (100126-1406)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdZzEZfskYk

Looking around from the rooftop of an old building in Ginza, and up at a towering new building going up right next to the old one.  There are not very many old buildings left in Ginza (or elsewhere in Tokyo for that matter).  They are relentlessly destroyed as the years go by.  (Throughout most of the video are various industrial noises from motors and pounding that emanate from the construction site.)

銀座一丁目の古い建物と隣の新しい建物  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 2:06 p.m.)


"Okuno Building - 6th Floor Stairwell" (100126-1425)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_ROqydy0FA

Standing in the stairwell of the sixth floor of the Okuno Building, looking around and listening to the sounds of people echoing through the building.  The room opposite the top of the stairs was apparently a lounge room for the tenents of the building when it was strictly an apartment building.  (Currently there are many galleries in the building, as well as office space, but no resident tenants.  The last tenant died one year ago at 100 years of age.  Apparently she had lived in the building for its entire history - over seven decades!  I wish I could have talked to her about the building's history while she was still alive.)

銀座一丁目の奥野ビルの六階  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 2:25 p.m.)


"Okuno Building 3rd Floor" (100126-1524)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUiDhDXrANw

Looking around on the third floor of the Okuno Building, including one of the displays in the room that was occupied by the very last tenant of the building, who died last year.  The group renting the space is preserving it as it was, and using it sometimes for eccentric exhibits.

銀座一丁目の奥野ビルの三階の見回り  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 3:24 p.m.)


"Old Ginza Building Roof" (100126-1544)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBo_uwzYJ8k

Having another look around on part of the old Ginza building roof that I hadn't yet been on.  At the end of the video, you can see the shape of the new building being built up around it.  That zig-zag shape exactly conforms to the space available next to the building I was on and the building next to it.  On the other side of the new building (to the left), there's a corner building that is being built around as well, so one side of the new building is about four or five times longer than the other.  This sort of thing often happens in Tokyo, where people shoehorn buildings into all available space.

銀座一丁目の古い建物の屋上  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 3:44 p.m.)


"Ginza Side Street - January 26th, 2010, 5:57 p.m."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms0vmsq0coU

Walking down a side street in Ginza on January 26th, 2010, at 5:57 p.m.

銀座の道  東京  (平成二十二年一月二十六日の午後六時頃)


"Ginza 3-Chome, Yurakucho-Bound" (100126-1800)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r6LUAzZ5BU

Walking down a street in Ginza 3-chome on the way to Yurakucho.

銀座三丁目、有楽町行き  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 6:00 p.m.)


"Crossing from Ginza into Yurakucho" (100126-1801)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkFoidYOQQE

Walking across the main road that divides Ginza 3-chome and Yurakucho 2-chome.

銀座三丁目から、有楽町二丁目へ  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 6:01 p.m.)


"Yurakucho Bic Camera Michael Jackson DVD Promotional Concert" (100126-1804)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fujlUg0jyBQ

Walking along the street next to the overhead tracks in Yurakucho after visiting Ginza, I was surprised to notice that there was a live concert in front of Bic Camera (in the former Sogo Department Store Building), so naturally I went up close for a look and then discovered why - they were promoting sales of a Michael Jackson DVD with the live band.  Bic Camera employees were walking around in front of the store clapping their hands to the music - I guess the idea being that their "enthusiasm" would be infectious and generate more sales of the DVD?

有楽町駅前のマイケルジャクソンDVD販売の為のライブコンサート  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 6:04 p.m.)


"Yurakucho - On Towards YSB" (100126-1805)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng0UdbqLGY4

Continuing on towards YSB, the sounds of the Bic Camera concert fade into the nighttime Yurakucho sounds of trains, traffic and walking & talking people.

有楽町駅から、有楽町YSBまで  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 6:05 p.m.)


"Yurakucho Station Bound - January 26th, 2010, 7:01 p.m."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um9FhVlCH30

As the light changes, I walk across the striped crosswalk towards Yurakucho Station in the purple Tokyo night.

夜の有楽町駅へ向かう  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 7:01 p.m.)


"Keihin-Tohoku & Yamanote Line Trains at Yurakucho Station" (100126-1903)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cHCONFAcRY

The Keihin-Tohoku Line train was delayed due to a woman getting her bags caught in one of the doors.  I was hoping to get a picture of her standing on the platform, with her hand around shopping bag straps by the door, with the shopping bags still inside the train on the other side of the closed doors.  (It must have been something expensive, because she never let go for a second.)  They opened the doors, she got her bags safely out of the train, and then I got the camera rolling.  Shortly thereafter, a Yamanote Line train came in on the other side of the platform, and I got on that.

有楽町駅の京浜東北線と山手線の電車  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 7:03 p.m.)


"Arriving at Tokyo Station at 7:05 p.m. on January 26th, 2010"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_-QFSUI3eQ

Arriving at Tokyo Station just as a Keihin-Tohoku Line train is departing from the other side of the platform (yes - the same one that had just left Yurakucho - they basically race each other up to Ueno).  The train stops, the doors open, and there's a bit of a rush for the stairs.  Hurrying down the stairs, I then head for the Chuo Line.

Why the rush for the stairs?  It's not for the tiny bit of extra time saved in getting there by walking fast, but rather to get there when there is still free access and you can walk down at a normal speed.  If you wait too long to get there, then you generally have to walk at a snail's pace as everyone has to slow down to the speed of the very slowest bipeds in the crowd, which is generally quite slow.

山手線の電車が、東京駅に到着  階段アクセス  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 7:05 p.m.)


"Shinjuku South Exit Crowds - 7:25 p.m. on January 26th, 2010"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpam4ZXpuS8

Beginning by a row of unused green public telephones within the upper level of Shinjuku Station, I head over to the south-east exit, exit the station through the ticket barrier there, and walk over to the top of the stairs leading down to the plaza.  From there, I turn around, walk past a row of ticket (and train IC card charge) machines and into a short mall (Lumine-2) that takes me over to the busy south exit.  The video ends as I navigate through a sea of people.  (Well - not a sea really, maybe a lake then?  "A lake of people."  Can I say that?)

新宿駅内の散歩から、南口の人々の中に歩いて行く  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 7:25 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Omoide-Yokocho - 9:41 p.m., January 26th, 2010"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofHex6Yj0rY

Walking through the retro drinking area Omoide-Yokocho at 9:41 p.m. - probably around the busiest time for the retro-drinking street.  Every time I walk through there, there seem to be still more tourists - it must be in guide books....

Towards the beginning of the clip, there's a woman dragging a large suitcase through.  I often see tourists walking around Tokyo dragging huge suitcases... I suppose they are either too early for check-in or stuck between check-out and heading to the airport for another city?  No big deal either way, but the sound of the suitcases on rough ground can be quite irritating if you're stuck walking beside them for a while.

新宿思い出横丁、九時四十一分、平成二十二年一月二十六日  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 9:41 p.m.)


"Seibu-Shinjuku Station Platform Walking" (100126-2148)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHmG34eTWow

Walking down a platform in Seibu-Shinjuku Station beside a stopped Red Arrow reserved-seat express train in order to get in line for a regular express train (which is about to arrive on the other side of the same platform).

西武新宿駅のプラットホーム散歩 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 9:48 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/01/28

"Tamagawa-josui Bicycle Ride, Lunchtime Shinjuku, Tokyo Station & Yurakucho"

Beginning with a weekend bicycle ride along the Tamagawa-josui canal, and then continuing with a lunchtime visit to Shinjuku, Tokyo Station, and Yurakucho.  The lighting on the streets of Shinjuku and Yurakucho is interesting for the long shadows of winter.  (There's something to be said for the lighting at all times of the year.)

"Bicycle Ride Along Tamagawa Josui Canal" (100124-1436)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlQeIqMvU8c

On the 24th, I went for a bicycle ride along the Tamagawa Josui Canal for several kilometers.  In the evening I tried going to a Y100 kaiten-sushi place, but there was an over-an-hour wait and the place with clogged with fire-breathing machinery riders, so I gave up on it.

ある日、玉川上水の隣に自転車を乗りました  東京  (Recorded on Sunday, January 24th, 2010, at 2:36 p.m.)


"Seibu-Shinjuku Station Plaza" (100126-1220)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpGrVQsTGEE

Looking around the plaza in front of Seibu-Shinjuku Station on a weekday afternoon at lunch in late January.

西武新宿駅プラザ  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 12:20 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Railway Bridge Noises" (100126-1221)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KndmxJrV790

Listening to the sounds of the overhead trains while walking under a railway bridge in Shinjuku.  (Visually boring, the main purpose of this one is for the sounds.)

新宿駅近くのガードの下の音  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 12:21 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Crossing & Omoide-yokocho" (100126-1222)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyyZ9j9r040

Beginning while I wait for the light to change at a large crossing, when the light changes, I walk across the long & wide crosswalk, and then through the old narrow "Omoide-yokocho" area.

新宿駅近くの交差点と思い出横丁  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 12:22 p.m.)


"Nishi-Shinjuku Lunchtime Yodobashi Tunes, etc." (100126-1230)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxhY99_6pV8

Walking around in Nishi-Shinjuku at lunchtime - walking past a Yodobashi-Camera with its store song playing, etc.

西新宿のお昼散歩、ヨドバシカメラのメロディなど  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 12:30 p.m.)


"Nishi-Shinjuku Winter Midday Shadows" (100126-1232)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZLBqcA7-bk

Continuing midday stroll in Nishi-Shinjuku in the harsh light and shadow of a winter's day.

西新宿のお昼散歩、冬の硬い光と影  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 12:32 p.m.)


"Round Elevator Reflections" (100126-1247)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXoupFolJwo

Looking at the world directly and through reflections in a glass-walled elevator in Nishi-Shinjuku.

西新宿のエレベーター  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 12:47 p.m.)


"Shinjuku Station, West Entrance" (100126-1313)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjTGcyhRGj8

Looking around (360-degree view) on the outside of the west exit ticket gates of Shinjuku Station, and then passing through the gates and heading for a train.

新宿駅の西口  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 1:13 p.m.)


"Early Afternoon Chuo Line Train Arrives in Shinjuku" (100126-1314)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHwg6IDVlxE

Early afternoon inbound Chuo Line train arrives in Shinjuku.  In the background another line is pulling in at the same time.

新宿駅、中央線の電車がやって来る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 1:14 p.m.)


"Tokyo Station Chuo Line Escalator & Mini Mall" (100126-1329)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObkFAYAbwac

After jumping off a Chuo Line train at Tokyo Station (last stop on the line), I run down an escalator and then walk through a mini-mall within the station.

東京駅で、中央線の電車から降りて、ミニモールを通る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 1:29 p.m.)


"Tokyo to Yurakucho & Shinkansen Seen From Yurakucho Platform" (100126-1332)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRVqyVvxjHI

Taking the Yamanote Line to Yurakucho from Tokyo, as I get off the train, a Shinkansen super-express train is passing, so I pause to watch it go by before heading down the stairs.

山手線で、東京駅から、有楽町駅まで  有楽町駅から通る新幹線を見る  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 1:32 p.m.)


"Yurakucho Winter Light & Shadows" (100126-1337)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s6xpvlr-Eg

Walking through the angled winter shadows of winter's leafless trees in Yurakucho.

有楽町冬光と影  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, at 1:37 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/01/22

"Ikegami Line, Yamanote Line, & Nishi-Shinjuku in the Rain"

Several videos from January 12th, 2010, starting with the Yamanote Line coming into Shinjuku Station, followed by a few views on the Ikegami Line, an internal (and vertical) view out the window of a Yamanote Line train leaving Harajuku Station, and then several views in Nishi-Shinjuku in the rain (some of which are technically in Shibuya-ku going strictly by the address, but definitely in the Shinjuku district by being in close vicinity to Shinjuku Station).

"Yamanote Line Arriving in Shinjuku - 3:33 p.m., Tuesday" (100112-1533)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyL9EW3Oi6s

A Yamanote Line train comes into Shinjuku Station... I wait and watch as people get off - and then walk aboard.

山手線が新宿駅に到着  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 3:33 p.m.)


"Waiting to Depart from Gotanda Station - Ikegami Line" (100112-1548)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5NnIp_QQd8

Standing by the open doors of an Ikegami Line train stopped at Gotanda Station, waiting for the driver to close the doors and get the train underway (there is no conductor on that line, so the driver does everything).

五反田駅で池上線が出発  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 3:48 p.m.)


"Elevated Ikegami Line Scenery Between Gotanda & Osaki-Hirokoji" (100112-1549)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0bxDmjrwcM

This clip begins as an Ikegami Line train departs Gotanda Station.  Just after clearing the platform, there is a view over Meguro River of several high-rise apartment towers downriver.  Then the train passes several apartment and office buildings and crosses a main road that my map has labeled with three(!) different names: 317, Route-6, & Yamanote-dori.  The clip ends as the trains is pulling into Osaki-Hirokoji Station.

五反田駅から、大崎広小路駅までの池上線の左側の風景  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 3:49 p.m.)


"Hatanodai Station - People Getting On & Off an Ikegami Line Train" (100112-1629)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sktreuwxZ8g

An Ikegami Line train pulls into Hatanodai Station and people get off and others on.  The clip ends as I climb aboard.

池上線の旗の台駅で人々が降りたり、乗ったり...  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 4:29 p.m.)


"Vertical Yamanote Line Departure from Harajuku" (100112-1713)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBPaxZCwV9s

Nighttime vertical view out window of Yamanote Line train as it departs Harajuku Station and heads for Yoyogi and Shinjuku as another train zooms by going in the opposite direction.

夜の山手線が原宿駅から、出発  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 5:13 p.m.)


"Nishi-Shinjuku Street in a Night Rain" (100112-1743)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQMuoZBA9B8

Walking down the street that lies between Nishi-Shinjuku 2-chome (left) and Nishi-Shinjuku 3-chome (right) in the winter evening darkness.  Shinjuku Chuo Park lies behind and to the left and the Washington Hotel appears up the street on the right.

夜の西新宿の雨道  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 5:43 p.m.)


"Marching Umbrellas in the Night" (100112-1748)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdl35K0sAgA

Walking up Koshukaido, the street (in a sea of umbrellas) that forms the dividing line between Shinjuku-ku (left) and Shibuya-ku (right), with Nishi-Shinjuku 1-chome (in Shinjuku-ku) on the left and Yoyogi 2-chome (in Shibuya-ku) on the right.

夜の西新宿の雨道  甲州街道  歩いている傘  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 5:48 p.m.)


"Approaching Shinjuku Station on the Shibuya Side" (100112-1752)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx1viHdlCkI

Walking up the street in the early Tokyo night rain, approaching Shinjuku Station on the Shibuya side of the road.

夜の雨の中、渋谷区側の甲州街道に歩いて、新宿駅に向う  傘傘  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 5:52 p.m.)


"Southern Terrace Rain March - January 12th, 2010" (100112-1816)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA-qUXRbLUA

Umbrella holders marching along "Shinjuku Southern Terrace" located in Yoyogi 2-chome in Shibuya.

The "Shinjuku" part of the name refers to Shinjuku as a district surrounding Shinjuku Station, irrespective of the address.  Of course, considering that the Odakyu Group operates the area, and Shinjuku Station is the Odakyu Line's terminal station, it's logical that they would want to use the station name over the area name (not to mention that if it was called "Shibuya Terrace", then people would be looking for it near Shibuya Station).

新宿サザンテラス、夜の雨の中、渋谷区、新宿駅に向う  傘傘  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 6:16 p.m.)


"Crossing Blue-Light Bridge in Shinjuku" (100112-1818)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFvjbFuQ47g

Crossing the pedestrian bridge over Koshukaido between Shinjuku Station and Southern Terrace - which is also a bridge from Shinjuku-ku to Shibuya-ku.  I think the blue illumination was temporary, but I'm not sure.  I'll have a look at the bridge the next time I'm in Shinjuku.

新宿の青い光の橋をわたる  甲州街道  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 6:18 p.m.)


"Car Culture Shinjuku" (100112-1818)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CECiBncx1mo

The area in front of the south entrance/exit of Shinjuku Station.  (Also a look back at the pedestrian bridge I had just crossed, with its blue illumination.)  Look at the amount of space given over to internal combustion machinery... I fully understand the need for cars out in the countryside, but in a city like Tokyo, they are curse!  Naturally there is a need for some delivery vehicles, taxis, emergency vehicles, etc., but a lot of the people driving within Tokyo don't really need to be - they could be taking a train or bus.  Too much of the city is sitting under asphalt and concrete.

新宿駅南口前の夜の雨の中の車... 車... 車...  甲州街道  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 6:18 p.m.)


"Walking Against Umbrella Traffic in Shinjuku" (100112-1819)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNGiVHcFzsE

Walking against a river of umbrella-wielding bipeds headed in the other direction.

新宿駅南口前の傘傘傘  夜の雨の中  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 6:19 p.m.)


"Rain Reflections in Shinjuku" (100112-1820)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVLl_YhERMg

Walking away - down the hill - from the south exit of Shinjuku Station through rain, looking down at one point at colorful reflections on the sidewalk asphalt, and then heading across a main street crosswalk full of umbrella-wielding bipeds.

新宿の雨、光、傘傘  夜の雨の中  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 6:20 p.m.)


"Nishi-Shinjuku 1-Chome Side Street" (100112-1841)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1ZE2gvBK0M

Walking down a side street in Nishi-Shinjuku - near a complex of discount electronics shops (mostly Yodobashi Camera - located in the opposite direction).

西新宿細い道  夜の雨の中  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, at 6:41 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/01/21

"Shinjuku Street Music, Kasumigaseki Protest, & Cold Wind Blowin'"

Going here and there - seeing Kagashima Koichiro perform live in Shinjuku one evening; seeing a protest in Kasumigaski for higher wages one afternoon; and looking at a sunset through trees in a park one evening.

The park is being threatened with road construction plans - apparently some idiot(s) think it would be a good idea to destroy half of a not-very large park and run a four-lane main road through it.  Sheer insanity!  When will the human race wake up and stop destroying their habitat in blind infatuation with the bloody internal combustion engine?

"Nagashima Koichiro Live in Shinjuku, Saturday, January 16th, 2010" (100116-1743)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6oC9gCTvWg

Bouncing around on Saturday, January 16th, 2010, I ran into Kouichirou Nagashima playing his guitar and singing out in a cold-cold January wind on the east side of Shinjuku Station.  I liked his music, so I bought the three CD's he had out for sale (one with two songs and the other two with one song each).  His website is as follows:
http://tosp.co.jp/i.asp?I=popman

新宿駅前東口  長島功一郎  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, January 16th, 2010, at 5:43 p.m.)


"Kasumigaseki Protest for Higher Wages - January 19th, 2010" (100119-1128)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASr4JkDYeSg

This demonstration for higher wages took place on January 19th, 2010, beginning in Kasumigaseki with speeches and some chanting in front of a government building in Kasumigaseki, and then the participants filed off into Hibiya Park with their banners, and probably marched through part of the city chanting (as is the custom), but I went off in a different direction, so I didn't see them after taking this video clip.

According to a flyer I was handed while walking through (seen briefly at the end of this clip), some of the largest companies have been hording cash for over ten years without raising employee's salaries (it specifically mentions Toyota and Canon).  On the flip side of the page, it says that the average minimum wage for Japan now is Y713, and calls for raising it to Y1,000.

霞ヶ関で、国民春闘共闘と東京春闘共闘のデモ  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010, at 11:28 a.m.)


"Kasumigaseki Protest for Higher Wages (Chant) - January 19th, 2010" (100119-1131)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m9Zm2i95NE

Continuation of the video clip showing a demonstration for higher wages that took place on January 19th, 2010, in Kasumigaseki, with a woman leading a protest chant.

According to a flyer I was handed while walking through, some of the largest companies have been hording cash for over ten years without raising employee's salaries (it specifically mentions Toyota and Canon).  On the flip side of the page, it says that the average minimum wage for Japan now is Y713, and calls for raising it to Y1,000.

霞ヶ関で、国民春闘共闘と東京春闘共闘のデモの声  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 19th, 2010, at 11:31 a.m.)


"Cold Windy January Day in Evening Tokyo Park" (2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOF5D0p9K4Q

A typical dry, cold, and windy day in January Tokyo.  The stillness of such days provides a contrast that makes July and August summer days seem more fully summer and warm/hot.  ......  I suppose a certain amount of bad times are needed in order to perceive good times as good....

Lyle


2010/01/18

"Yurakucho 2-chome & Marunouchi 3-chome"

A few Yurakucho videos, including some that are near Yurakucho Station and considered to be part of Yurakucho, but are actually in Marunouchi (strictly going by the address).  The major JR stations tend to become district names, which is fine, but what is confusing is that they are generally first named after a place name, so you end up with overlapping meanings - partly meaning the actual address and partly meaning a loosly defined area around stations that denotes a district.

"Yamanote Line Leaving Yurakucho Station" (100108-1630)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OneOQfX64zg

4:30 p.m. Yamanote Line train leaving Yurakucho Station, bound for Tokyo and Ueno stations.

有楽町駅の山手線が出発  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 4:30 p.m.)


"Walking Towards Ginza from Yurakucho" (100108-1635)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH8NkcUC8P4

Walking through Yurakucho 2-chome on the way to Ginza at around 4:30 p.m. in early January.  Notice how dark it is already (Tokyo is in the wrong time zone).

有楽町駅から銀座へ向かう  有楽町二丁目  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 4:35 p.m.)


"Lights Still Up on January 8th, 2010" (100108_1848)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2n4WJerW6s

Looking down a street in Yurakucho 2-chome at lighting still up from the Christmas/New Year's holiday.  Possibly due to the low electricity costs of new LED lighting, several places in Tokyo have left lighting like this up for longer than used to be the case (I think... it could be that I've forgotten how long they left lighting up in past years, but I don't think it was this long...).

有楽町駅の近く  有楽町二丁目  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 6:48 p.m.)


"6:49 p.m. - People Yurakucho Station Bound" (100108-1849)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eft_2uEhUj4

First looking down the street that runs between Marunouchi 3-chome and Yurakucho 2-chome, and then down a cross street (that runs parallel with the Yamanote Line tracks) towards Yurakucho Station, as people head for home after getting off work.

仕事が終わって、駅に向かう人々  丸の内三丁目と有楽町二丁目の道路と有楽町駅向かう道  有楽町駅の近く  有楽町二丁目  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 6:49 p.m.)


"Tilted World - Banzai Gravity!" (100108-1903)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDe4AqM888o

View of street running between the elevated tracks on the left and Kokusai Forum on the right.  (Interesting how people stay glued to the surface of the planet even when it's got them at a tilt.)  A train goes by... a woman answers her cell phone... somehow night seems to be the natural state for Tokyo.

Without looking at a map, I think most people would consider this to be part of Yurakucho, and indeed the nearest JR station is Yurakucho, but the address is actually Marunouchi 2-chome.

地球が曲がっても、堕ちない  有楽町駅の近く  丸の内三丁目  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 7:03 p.m.)


"Marunouchi 3-chome Cooking Smoke Under Tracks" (100108-1905)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSKbC0HSYAQ

Seamless with the Yurakucho drinking area around and under the tracks, the proper address for this video is Marunouchi 3-chome, although I suspect this is like "Shinjuku" Southern Terrace, which is near the south entrance/exit of Shinjuku Station, but is (address wise) actually in Shibuya.

From the middle of the video where I walk down the narrow path beneath the tracks, the arched part is under the Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, Tokaido etc. lines, and where the roof suddenly is very high is under the much newer (relatively speaking - completed in 1964) Shinkansen tracks.

The smoke that fills the arched passageway is from grilling chicken (and other things) - yakitori.

丸の内三丁目のガードの下の居酒屋  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 7:05 p.m.)


"Yurakucho Kokusai Forum Entrance at Night - January 2010" (100108-1910)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U90k69gxgI8

Entering the open area between two buildings of the Kokusai Forum complex.  Being right next to several main railway lines, they put up a long narrow building shaped something like a boat next to the tracks, and the concert hall spaces are on the other side of the empty space between the boat-shaped building and concert hall spaces.  In this way, the noise from the railways is blocked by the boat-shaped building.

Like the nearby under-the-tracks izakaya, this is also thought of as being in Yurakucho, although the address is Marunouchi 3-chome.  Yurakucho Station is right on the very corner of Yurakucho, so the street between the station and Kokusai Forum is the dividing line between Marunouchi and Yurakucho.

国際フォーラム  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 7:10 p.m.)


"Yurakucho Station Framed by Seasonally Lit Kokusai Forum" (100108-1913)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRyABdDgwZo

Looking towards Yurakucho Station from the middle of the open plaza between the two Kokusai Forum buildings.  (Vertical view)

国際フォーラム  有楽町駅の近く  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 7:13 p.m.)


"Yurakucho Bipedal Navigation" (100108-1914)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoQhyR10sIc

Walking out of Kokusai Forum in Marunouchi 3-chome, across the street, and into Yurakucho 2-chome.

People in LA are used to cars moving about everywhere all the time, and people in Tokyo are used to people walking about everywhere all the time.  This video is a good example of how it feels to navigate pedestrian traffic in Tokyo.

有楽町の歩いている人々  有楽町駅  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 7:14 p.m.)


"Headed for Yurakucho SB - January 2010" (100108-1915)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IirIfp6Io1k

Walking mainly against the flow of people, most of whom are going towards Yurakucho Station.

有楽町の人々  有楽町駅  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 7:15 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/01/17

"Senzokuike, Hatanodai, & Kabukicho"

Several views of Senzokuike Park (on the Ikegami Line near Senzokuike Station), as well as a few views at or near Hatanodai Station, and one video of Kabukicho 1-chome, in Shinjuku.

"Ikegami Line Hums Off Through Light & Shadows" (100108-1410)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EbJ41PC20w

Going from a vertical view of shadows on the platform to a horizontal view of an Ikegami Line train leaving the station.

The Ikegami Line is interesting is that there are four generations of railway carriages being used, with the oldest being close to 50 years old and the newest being very recently put on the rails.

池上線が光と影の中、出発  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 2:10 p.m.)


"Senzokuike Park - One Sunny, Calm, Cold Day in January" (100108-1420)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_M28jnHKnw

Walking around in sunny, but cold Senzokuike Park, starting with a 360 decree pan of the surroundings, and then walking over to look out over the pond (or should I say small lake) that forms the center of the park, and is what makes this such a nice spot within mega-city Tokyo.

洗足池公園 池上線の洗足池駅の近く 東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 2:20 p.m.)


"Senzokuike Park - View from Pier (While Men Talk)" (100108-1424)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzMgrR82c5Q

View over Senzokuike Lake from the end of a small pier as a group of men talk.

洗足池公園 池上線の洗足池駅の近く 東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 2:24 p.m.)


"Carp in Feeder Stream at Senzokuike Park" (100108-1433)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsIsB_DaKpo

A look at some of the carp in a feeder stream that flows into Senzokuike Lake.

洗足池公園の鯉 (池上線の洗足池駅の近く) 東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 2:33 p.m.)


"Boys Feeding Carp, Fishing, at Senzokuike" (100108-1434)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIxe4fYBm9A

Walking by some young boys - one group feeding large carp, and the other catching small fish (also carp?).

洗足池公園の魚釣り (池上線の洗足池駅の近く) 東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 2:34 p.m.)


"Crossing Old Style Bridge in Senzokuike Park" (100108_1436)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK1LmYdPtXw

Exploring Senzokuike Park - walking/looking around - crossing an old style wooden bridge.

洗足池公園の古い形の橋 (池上線の洗足池駅の近く) 東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 2:36 p.m.)


"Crossing Pedestrian Bridge to Senzokuike Station" (100108_1441)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKv65IBQd-M

Walking across the pedestrian bridge between Senzokuike Station and Senzokuike Park that crosses the four-lane main road there.

洗足池公園と池上線の横断歩道  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 2:41 p.m.)


"Triangular Sky - Ikegami Line 2010" (100118-1450)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN8TsvFWT24

Looking up at a triangular section of sky and then dropping the field of view to take in the approaching train.  As the warning bells sound and I'm climbing aboard the train, the clip ends.

池上線の三角形の空  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 2:50 p.m.)


"Exiting at Hatanodai Station (Ikegami Line)" (100108-1459)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCO0qZzdZHw

Exiting through the ticket gates and walking over to a clanging railroad crossing.

池上線の旗の台駅から降りて、踏切を見る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 2:59 p.m.)


"Side Street off Hatanodai Shotengai" (100108-1527)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNhhFSKjaQc

Walking along the long shotengai (shopping street) near Hatanodai Station, I stumble upon a narrow street that leads past some hidden (from the main street) shops.

旗の台の商店街を散歩して、細い道を発見  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 3:27 p.m.)


"Quick Look Inside Hatanodai Grocery Store" (100108-1554)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9GjYxpBOjM

Walking along the Hatanodai Shotengai, I take a look inside a grocery store as the evening shopping period begins.

旗の台の商店街のスーパーマーケット  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 3:54 p.m.)


"Newest of Four Train Types Arrives at Hatanodai Station" (100108-1605)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_36oogF7eI

Watching from Hatanodai Station as one of the new type trains comes in.

旗の台駅の新しい電車がやって来る  東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 4:05 p.m.)


"Kabukicho 'Shinjuku Golden-gai' 歌舞伎町新宿ゴールデン街" (100116-2000)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu75Yxcconk

Wandering around in the mysterious "Golden-gai" area of Kabukicho in Shinjuku.  This used to be just a cheap drinking area comprised of a collection of small wooden buildings, but it's becoming a bit of a tourist attraction as it seems very much from a different era.  Walking through on a Saturday night at 8:00 p.m., I got the feeling that business isn't so good - many of the shops were empty and most of the people I saw walking through were just sight-seeing a funky old area, and not going into any of the drinking establishments.  On the other hand - 8:00 p.m. may be way too early for this area.  It's probably busier around 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.

歌舞伎町新宿ゴールデン街  東京  (Recorded on Saturday, January 16th, 2010, at 8:00 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/01/12

"Friday, January 8th, 2010 Yamanote Line Views"

"The good-old Yamanote Line."  I don't always think of it that way when I just want to get home and conditions are crowded (which they usually are), but Tokyo life revolves around the Yamanote Line to a fair degree, with it defining the central area and its stations being used as area names (which is generally accurate, since the stations are named after the areas they are in).

Of the following videos, some are of the over-recorded, straight through the front cab window angle, but others explore other angles and reflections:

"Shinjuku Yamanote Reflections - Yoyogi Bound" (100108-1334)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVMQSNC4x4E

Shinjuku Station.  Reflections in front cab passenger-side glass... doors close... train departs as platform melody plays for a train stopped at another platform.  The train then passes beneath the new south side construction area, making the Yamanote Line tracks here seem as though they are passing through a tunnel on the way to Yoyogi Station.  新宿駅の光、代々木駅迎えて 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 1:34 p.m.)


"Gotanda to Osaki on January 8th, 2010" (100108-1347)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8MkJo-TNwA

One of the recent women drivers operates the train, taking it from Gotanda Station to Osaki Station, where the driver of the train is changed.  They seem to always change drivers at Osaki Station, in which case, they change the drivers every hour, as it takes about one hour to make a complete loop of the Yamanote Line.  女性の運選手さん 五反田駅から、大崎駅まで 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 1:47 p.m.)


"Osaki Station, Escalator & Platform - January 8th, 2010, 1:51 p.m."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY5QcRV49IU

Walking through Osaki Station and then down the escalator to the platform for Shibuya/Shinjuku-bound Yamanote Line trains.  大崎駅の中やプラットホーム 山手線 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 1:51 p.m.)


"Yamanote Line Arrives with a Vengeance at Osaki Station" (100108-1353)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evbQbjM4QzE

A Yamanote Line train comes into Osaki Station a bit like a typhoon.  台風山手線電車が、大崎駅にやって来る 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 1:53 p.m.)


"Osaki to Gotanda via Yamanote on January 8th, 2010" (100108-1354)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtdODIrdJe4

View out left side of Shibuya/Shinjuku-bound Yamanote Line train from Osaki to Gotanda.  大崎駅から、五反田駅まで 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 1:54 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/01/11

"Yurakucho Izakaya & Tachikawa Views"

I visited Tachikawa recently - the first time I've been there in some time.  Some views of the station area and nearby streets follow a couple of Yurakucho area videos:

"Izakaya Search Under Shinkansen Tracks in Yurakucho" (100108-1849)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alL2brF4S-g

Heading under the Shinkansen tracks near Yurakucho Station in search of old-style izakayas.  It used to be that places under the tracks were never expensive, due to noise and vibration from the overhead trains, and so they've always been popular with people looking for economical places to eat and drink who don't mind the noise.  But with better tracks and smoother running trains, combined with a tidal wave of overpriced luxury stores and restaurants all over Tokyo, places under the tracks have been getting (shudder) trendy, and the trendiness could be the death of the area's low-priced small shops as expensive restaurants and drinking establishments move in, pushing up rents and driving out the smaller, more atmospheric, lower priced establishments.  But for now, there are still remnants of the old Yurakucho if you look hard enough....  新幹線のガードの下の居酒屋、有楽町辺り  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 6:49 p.m.)


"Trendy Izakaya Shops Along Tracks in Yurakucho" (100108-1852)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S88l1UupFWM

With quick access to Yurakucho Station, quieter rails and trains, and new, larger shops, there are many popular trendy shops under the tracks now.  It's too bad in a way, as almost all of Tokyo is plagued with new trendy stuff, so it's easy to find yourself wishing for a continuation of some of the funky old stuff.  Anyway, even the new places aren't bad, and some of them are reasonably priced....  京浜東北線のガードの下のトレンディ居酒屋、有楽町の辺り  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 6:52 p.m.)


"Evening Inbound Chuo Line Train Arrives at Kokubunji" (100105-1827)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rB9bOakHKNg

Chuo Line train comes into Kokubunji Station on a weekday evening.  中央線が国分寺駅に入る 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010, at 6:27 p.m.)


"Walking Towards Monorail at Tachikawa Station" (100108-1141)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQEeYnmMNLQ

Walking towards the monorail station at Tachikawa after riding in on a Chuo Line train.  中央線の立川駅からモノレール向きに歩き出す 東京  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 11:41 a.m.)


"Outside Down Escalator in Tachikawa" (100108-1143)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVwgX44MUaU

Looking around while riding an outdoors escalator towards street level from the overhead pedestrian walkway on the south side of the station.  立川駅南口の外のエスカレーター 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 11:43 a.m.)


"Tachikawa Bipedal Street View" (100108-1233)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EstuPcbqegI

Walking along a January street in Tachikawa at lunchtime.  In the middle of the video is a hamburger place playing fifties music.  After walking by with the camera recording, I shut off the camera and went back for a hamburger.  It was quite good I thought.  And since it was between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., it included free French fries (or "fried potato[es]" as they are locally known).  In addition to the retro-music, they had advertisements from old magazines on the wall that were interesting to check out.  The only one I could put a specific date to was an ad for a 1960 car.  I asked when they were from, but the shop-keeper didn't have any idea.  Late fifties I would guess, from the content and from the ad for the 1960 car.  立川の道の歩きながらビュー 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 12:33 p.m.)


"Tachikawa Station Bound on January 8th, 2010" (100108-1302)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS3dEmmVT98

Walking under the monorail... (track? concrete road?) on the way to the entrance to Tachikawa Station.  立川駅の近く 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 1:02 p.m.)


"Tachikawa Station & Running for Chuo Line" (100108-1303)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GffLepVxtsc

Walking past a bakery as I enter Tachikawa Station, I take a quick look at a rest area and then proceed through the ticket barrier and into the central part of the station.  As I realize there's a Chuo Line train about to leave, I break into a run in order to catch it.  I run down the stairs and then walk up the platform a little before climbing aboard.  Looking out the still open door from inside the train, there is a view of a freight train just coming to a stop on a neighboring track.  立川駅 中央線に乗る為、走る 貨物列車 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 1:03 p.m.)


"Leaving Tachikawa via Chuo Line" (100108-1305)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jFGeQapEp0

As the train pulls away from Tachikawa Station, you can see a stopped freight train on a neighboring track.  Further along, there is a quick view of new tracks under construction.  (Only the outbound rails are elevated here now, next they will elevate the inbound rails as well.  中央線の立川駅からの出発 貨物列車 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 1:05 p.m.)


"Chuo Line Construction between Kokubunji & Tachikawa" (100108-1306)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsoDY_0VLCE

In this stretch, only the outbound tracks are elevated, so the newly elevated part is seen from ground level in this view taken from the right side of an inbound Chuo Line train.  (It was a similar situation with the stretch between Kokubunji and Mitaka, but they've got both inbound and outbound elevated there now.)  中央線の国分寺と立川の間の工事 貨物列車 東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, January 8th, 2010, at 1:06 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/01/10

"Kokubunji, Yamanote, Chuo, & Ikegami Line Views"

Still off beaten tracks, and running around off-schedule - me that is, not the trains!  No pun intended there, but as soon as I wrote that, it seemed like a bad set of words to introduce some train videos with - "off the tracks" and "off schedule"!  In any case, here's the latest batch of videos, showing trains that are both *on* the tracks and *on* schedule:

"Manual Train Operation - Seibu-Kokubunji Line" (December 31st, 2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhqvK732TZA

Newer trains tend to have a single lever that is pulled back and pushed forward to control acceleration and braking (back for acceleration, forward for braking I think) - but the old type trains have separate controls for acceleration and braking - the operation of which is clearly shown in this video clip - taken on the Seibu-Kokubunji Line on December 31st, 2009.  手動電車の操作  西武国分寺線


"Shinjuku South Entrance/Exit - January 5th, 2009, PM"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZKmEAAxH5U

View of the outside of the South entrance/exit of Shinjuku Station, and then passing through the ticket barrier, and down the stairs to the Chuo Line platform.  Dispassionately watching this at home, it seems different than when not looking at (or thinking in) the tunnel vision that cameras have.  In the day-to-day navigation of Tokyo, it's more of a constant scan of your surroundings from way-point to way-point.  Collision avoidance becomes second nature.


"Shibuya to Ebisu via Yamanote Line (in HD) on January 31st, 2009" (091231-1308)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZnpfcn75L8

Riding the Yamanote Line from Shibuya to Ebisu - looking out the front cab in the early afternoon on December 31st, 2009.

This is my first upload of a high-definition video to YouTube, so I'd be interested in hearing feedback regarding how it looks and plays back on your system.  Feedback so far indicates that it plays okay at the larger size.  The weight of the HD files makes for long uploads though, so I probably won't be uploading very many in this format.  渋谷駅から恵比寿駅まで、電車の前の風景  (Recorded on Thursday, December 31st, 2009, at 1:08 p.m.)


"Car Culture Japan - Bicycle Ride in January 2010"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8qoxtJSvGI

Lest people think that everyone always gets everywhere by train in Japan, I thought I'd toss this car-culture view on-line.  Particularly outside central Tokyo, many people rely on their cars as much as US drivers.  Much of Japan is a car culture now.  Areas designed for walking are much more enjoyable to walk around in, but this area isn't bad on a bicycle - aside from having to breath noxious gases from fire-breathing machinery that is.  (I know - I know.  Listen, when I'm behind the wheel of a car, I love cars!  But recently I'm almost never behind the wheel of a car or even in a car as a passenger, and when you're walking or cycling, cars & trucks seem like quite nasty contraptions - dangerous, noisy, noxious, etc.)


"Kokubunji to Tachikawa via Chuo Line" (100108-1133)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utu8RqKt7wo

Taking the Chuo Line from Kokubunji to Tachikawa, watching the scenery (on the right side of the train) flow by.  Nothing very exciting - just views of houses, large apartment buildings, and (a little exciting for people who use the Chuo Line) new track construction.

They've been working on improving the Chuo Line between Mitaka and Tachikawa for several years now, and all the new construction is beginning to produce improved train service.  Elevating tracks that were on the ground eliminates railway crossings for roads; and new stations where express trains can pass local trains speeds up the line as a whole, etc.  中央線で、国分寺駅から立川駅まで、電車の右側の風景  (Recorded on Friday, January 8th, 2010, at 11:33 a.m.)


"Vertical Reflections on the Ikegami Line (HD)" (091231-1318)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od2dU0FD0js

(In high-definition) Looking out the front cab of an Ikegami Line train (running from Osaki-Hirokoji to Togoshi-Ginza) at a combination of outside images/light mixed with internal images/reflections.  The station name announcements are the cool/retro recorded-decades-ago type.  池上線 大崎広小路駅 戸越銀座駅  (Recorded on Thursday, December 31st, 2009, at 1:18 p.m.)


"Senzokuike to Ishikawadai (Vertical HD)" (091231-1325)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKM_gpTexZg

High-definition vertical view through front cab of an Ikegami Line train of the run from Senzokuike to Ishikawadai.  Taken vertically, you probably have to watch it horizontally, but I look forward to the day when video can be displayed easily vertically, and *then* you can see this in the way it should be seen.  Best of all will be moving images that can snap from horizontal to vertical and back, as you watch (designers - hello?).  池上線 洗足池駅 石川台駅  (Recorded on Thursday, December 31st, 2009, at 1:25 p.m.)

Lyle


2010/01/05

"New Year's Shopping in 1990 & Riding the Chichibu Line"

A look back at grocery shopping before the beginning of the New Year's holiday, taken on December 30th & 31st, 1990; and several views from the front and rear cabs of a Chichibu Line train, taken in January 2010.

"New Year's Shopping in Hibarigaoka - December 30th, 1990 (A)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k39mwVlFeXI

Walking around in Hibarigaoka on December 30th, 1990, observing people shopping ahead of the New Year's holiday.  This may be of some historical interest, as it shows the shops that were subsequently torn down to make way for the Parco department store, as well as the shops below the old station, which were also torn down when the station was rebuilt.  ひばりが丘の正月の買い物  平成二年十二月三十日  (See "New Year's Shopping in Hibarigaoka - December 30th, 1990 (B)" for the second part of this.)


"New Year's Shopping in Hibarigaoka - December 30th, 1990 (B)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJoFMeSFZzg

Continuing my walk around Hibarigaoka on December 30th, 1990.  As I mentioned in the "A" part of this, this may be of some historical interest, as it shows the area before construction for Parco began and also the old station and the shops below it before it was rebuilt.  (See "New Year's Shopping in Hibarigaoka - December 30th, 1990 (A)" for the first nine minutes).  ひばりが丘の正月の買い物  平成二年十二月三十日


"Tokyo New Year's Eve Shopping - December 31st, 1990"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDhj5SswN3w

Going shopping on the last day of 1990 at (mostly) Seiyu (with a brief view of Olympic) in Hibarigaoka (in Tokyo) on December 31st, 1990.  Taken before construction of Parco had even begun, Seiyu was the main store for grocery shopping in Hibarigaoka at the time.  Being the final day for shopping before the New Year's holiday began, this video shows large numbers of people stocking up on food just before the holiday begins.  ひばりが丘の正月の買い物  平成2年12月31日  (See "New Year's Shopping in Hibarigaoka - December 30th, 1990 (A)" and "New Year's Shopping in Hibarigaoka - December 30th, 1990 (B)" for scenes from the previous day, also taken in Hibarigaoka.)


"Night Tokorozawa Station Platform" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpKAgQKQGVM

Waiting for a train in Tokorozawa - looking both ways on the platform.  夜の所沢駅  西武線  平成22年1月


"Arriving in Yorii in Nearly Empty Tobu-Tojo Line Train" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2EcHU7Wqz8

The Tobu-Tojo Line is a busy line, but not out at the very end of the line, where this video was taken (nearing the final stop, Yorii Station).  東武東上線  寄居駅の近く  平成22年1月


"Yorii Station Bridge to Chichibu Line Platform" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHNWmhsCBWc

Walking down an old station bridge to the Chichibu Line platform.  秩父線  平成22年1月


"Boarding Chichibu Line Train at Yorii" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RXwO02pnDk

Watching a Chichibu Line train arrive at Yorii Station and then climbing aboard.  秩父線  平成22年1月


"Arriving Chichibu Line Train" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhOxK_SDR44

Watching a Chichibu Line train arrive at the station from the other direction (taken inside another Chichibu Line train).  Notice how the middle car of the three-car train (by looking at the roofs of the three train cars) doesn't have air conditioning.  I wish none of the trains had it - since air conditioning only makes conditions on trains better (cooler) for a couple of months a year, and it has led to new trains being designed with bad ventilation.)  秩父線  平成22年1月


"Front Cab View from Chichibu Line Train" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkVqwosORno

Looking out the front cab of a Chichibu Line train as it runs along a road.  (Unluckily for the Chichibu Line, it runs in a car culture section of Japan and doesn't get very many passengers.  Hopefully it'll stay in business.)  The odd noise is a wind leak - a nice feature of old trains, as then you get some ventilation even when the windows are shut (said without even a trace of sarcasm).  秩父線  平成22年1月


"Chichibu Line to Higuchi Station" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USbtjYCSu0k

Riding the Chichibu Line (starting midway to Higuchi Station); a front cab view of the ride until the train stops at Higuchi.  Notice how the driver gets up at each station to open and close the doors.  On longer and busier trains, they usually have both a driver and a conductor, but on short trains with few passengers, the driver performs the conductor's usual duty of controlling the doors in addition to running the train.  (On lines in Tokyo with more modern equipment, the driver remains seated and controls the doors by watching video camera views from monitors in the cab.)  秩父鉄道  樋口駅  平成22年1月


"Chichibu Line Front Cab View from Higuchi to Nogami" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8E4BEy0r-w

Looking out the front cab of a Chichibu Line train as it rolls from Higuchi Station to Nogami Station.  秩父鉄道  樋口駅から、野上駅まで  平成22年1月


"Chichibu Line Front Cab View from Nogami to Nagatoro" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xWzdPKSER8

Looking out the front cab of a Chichibu Line train as it rolls from Nogami Station to Nagatoro Station.  秩父鉄道  野上駅から、長瀞駅まで  平成22年1月


"Chichibu Line Front Cab View from Kami-Nagatoro to Oyahana" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU_GXjGO1M0

Looking out the front cab of a Chichibu Line train as it rolls from Kami-Nagatoro Station to Oyahana Station.  The train crosses a river, via a bridge someone afraid of heights probably wouldn't want to walk across (no guardrails).

Towards the end of the clip, I walk back to the rear of the train, passing through the type of doors JR (formerly JNR) trains used to all have.  (Someone told me that the trains now being used on the Chichibu Line used to be Chuo Line trains.)  秩父鉄道  上長瀞駅から、親鼻駅まで  平成22年1月


"Chichibu Line Rear Cab View from Oyahana to Minano" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO2CYFlTP80

Looking out the rear cab of a Chichibu Line train as it runs from Oyahana to Minano.  Also a view of the inside of the train.  Notice how different the sound of the announcements is compared with newer trains.  I'm  not sure why exactly, but I prefer old announcements via old PA systems like this one.  It's also very nice in that it doesn't have any highly irritating, quarter-speed, over-pronounced, inane English announcements - the curse of modern trains in Tokyo.   秩父鉄道  親鼻駅から、皆野駅まで  平成22年1月


"Chichibu Line Front Cab View from Minano to Wadokuroya" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6PFCGoR2Zg

Back to the front of a Chichibu Line train as it rolls from Minano to Wadokuroya.  秩父鉄道  皆野駅から、和銅黒谷駅まで  平成22年1月


"Driving on Back Streets in Chichibu City" (January 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMx3q0jFpcQ

Driving on back streets n Chichibu City.  秩父市の夜道  平成22年1月

Lyle


2010/01/01

"Happy New Year!  Meiji Shrine - January 1st, 2010"

I've often visited Meiji Shrine at New Year's, but I've always gone either in the middle of the night on 12/31-1/1 or early in the day on 1/1, 1/2, or 1/3 - this is the fist time I've visited there in the late afternoon of the first.  It turned out to be a good time to visit - watching the evening sky while waiting in line, etc.

"Food Area Near Meiji Shrine - January 1st, 2010" (100101-1559)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q93iOSqM6aw

Walking around part of the food area near Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day, 2010.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 3:59 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine - Crowd Walking Along Gravel Path" (100101-1611)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xujqUii5poo

Part of the ritual of visiting Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day is crunching through the gravel on the long path that leads to the center of the complex.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 4:11 p.m.)


"Meiji Shine - Sea of People on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1626)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_XHlVXQ7-w

Looking ahead and behind from the middle of a sea of people on their way to visit Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day.  This level of people could be a problem, but the police did a very good job of crowd control and (aside from a few bipeds who rudely pushed their way through the crowd), everyone was calm and polite and it was a pleasant experience visiting the shine.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 4:26 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine New Year's Crowd Moving Toward 3rd Torii Gate" (100101-1656)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMr4_EiXlTI

The crowd begins moving towards the third torii gate, near the middle of the Meiji Shine complex.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 4:56 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine - Announcements Near Inside Torii Gate" (100101-1702)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CceSVbLXYR0

Near to the inner courtyard of Meiji Shrine - listening to announcements while waiting for the crowd control police to let another batch of people through.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:02 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine - Entering Center Courtyard on New Year's Day " (100101-1710)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVNCz5PAFrU

The crowd begins moving towards the gate that leads into the central courtyard of Meiji Shrine!  Looking back, the police have formed a new line (with a rope) to keep the next group of people waiting while my group moves forward.  Entering the inner courtyard, there are a sea of people, but - thanks to good crowd control - there is very little pushing and banging into other people.  The police suggest moving to the left and right, and some people listen, but the largest percentage opt for the center.  (You can't see it in this video, but there's another, last, police line holding my group back from the very front of the crowd.)  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:10 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine - Inner Courtyard on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1713)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqm7nCWsZzg

While looking around and behind me in the inner courtyard, the final crowd control barrier gives way and we move forward....  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:13 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine - Courtyard Shadows on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1715)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkYaKBiF24w

Looking down at moving shadow patterns on the stone ground of the inner courtyard of Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day, 2010.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:15 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine - People Leaving Inner Courtyard on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1735)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPKda5Qt8gY

After praying at the shrine, people walking away from the inner courtyard.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:35 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine - Heading Back Towards Station on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1741)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yssF5VcjhLc

Walking back towards the station after visiting Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:41 p.m.)


"People & Their Shadows" (100101)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt24QQM7FUs

While leaving Meiji Shrine on New Year's Day, stopping to watch people and their shadows walk by.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:44 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine - Exit Path on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1746)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhcfHhtfN1s

People talking & laughing as they walk towards the station after visiting Meiji Shine on New Year's Day 2010.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:46 p.m.)


"Meiji Shrine - Photo Session on New Year's Day 2010" (100101-1757)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lDx4PxEzng

People posing for pictures in front of the entrance torii to Meiji Shrine.  明治神宮での初詣  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 5:57 p.m.)


"Harajuku Station - Back to Normal Tokyo Life... (100101-1802)"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cy9A4oGWJU

After the pleasant once-in-a-year visit to Meiji Shrine, the platform of Harajuku Station signaled the return to normal Tokyo life - more trains.  That said, traveling in Tokyo today was quite pleasant, with seats available on all the trains.  (It would be so much nicer to travel about within Tokyo if the people density on the trains was always this low!)  明治神宮での初詣  原宿駅  (Recorded on Friday, January 1st, 2010, at 6:02 p.m.)