Fall Shamisen Concert

I was roped into this one, but it was a growing experience. We have a video and extracted this photo so it is not as clear as a normal photo. The shamisen arrangements were in two parts and sounded very nice in the group.

R & R in Tokyo

The National Art Center, Tokyo and the Suntory Museum of Art, both in the Roppongi area, hosted works by Picasso on loan from the Picasso Museum in Paris (touring while the Picasso Museum renovates).
These two photographs were taken near the Suntory Museum. Please do click on the pic to see detail--the kimono next to Western-style dress is not unusual.

Hiking to the Nitta Castle Ruins on Mt. Kanayama

The fall weather, R & R, and a hike in hills. The trail to the centuries-old Nitta family castle ruins in Gunma Prefecture is where the view overlooks(see the header photo as ex.) the cities of Ota, Kiryu and Ashikaga. The sun pool--a rare thing atop a small mountain--was built especially to collect rainwater for the castle operations.(click the pic to see detail)

Chef as Origami Expert

We ate at a restaurant called Kikaku. The chef there is so skilled with a kitchen knife that he is called Ita-mae ("Ita" means cutting-board/"ma-e" means in front of); it is a complimentary nickname for an accomplished Japanese chef. He is also accomplished at making origami. He made the 4 cranes he is holding out of one sheet of paper while keeping them connected as seen in the photo.

Futon photo for Ginger

Ginger asked about futon bedding, and the practice of hanging the futons out in the sunshine, every day or so. Here is a good example.

Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum=Vermeer Exhibit

Friend Michiko and I went by train to Ueno Park where the Metropolitan Art Museum was hosting an exhibition of Vermeer and the Delft Style. In the same building was a special annual exhibit of Japanese artists which included a piece by my painting sensei; he gave his students 2 free tickets for that exhibit. He is 82 years old and lived and studied in Paris for 20 years. Alas, Al had to work.

Oze National Park--Gunma Prefecture