Mido-suji Illumination

At the Grand Front Osaka, Umeda

Mido-suji Boulevard runs north-south in the center of Osaka, the second largest city in Japan.

Right under the boulevard, Mido-suji Line of Osaka Metro runs.

Big companies and international brand outlets stand on both sides of it.

It is also lined with border of ginkgo trees, which cast lovely shade in summer 

and fabulous golden-yellow foliage in autumn.

In winter, the trees are illuminated about 4 kilomiters between Umeda and Namba.

Last year, pink light bulbs made me feel as if Sakura (cherry blossoms) were blooming 

on the bare trees.

A girl was smiling comfortably in the shower of light as its title says 光の中で Hikari no nakade.

I thought I'd like to return to see her in the soft shower of sunlight but haven't made it yet.

By SATO Keisuke, donated by NCS&A

Last year, sudden fleezing rain stopped my walk halfway, so this post includes 

the scenes from the last year.

This year, as you see in the photos below, many Ginkgo leaves are left due to too warm autumn 

and warm winter till the day before yesterday.

Brilliant yellow leaves made champaign-gold bulbs look whitish in my photos.

Mido-suji has another attraction as "Sculpture Street".

29 sculptures by famous artists are displayed on both sides near Yodoyabashi.

All of them, real not replica, were donated by the companies in the neighborhood.

I was surprised to find Eve by Rodin standing along the road 

because I like it when such a famous sculpture stands in the garden of a museum 

or in a park.

Eve by Auguste Rodin, donated by Osaka Gas Corp.

This is one of my favorites.

In the girl's raised hands is a dove which is about to take flight.

"大空に Into the Sky" by KUWAHARA Hiromori, donated by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

The Accordian Player by Ossip Zadkine, donated by TAKENAKA Corp.

Illumination colors change from area to area.

(2022)

I can't pass by without photographing reflections on glasses, wet pavement, or cars.

(2022)

Different color bulbs are used near Shinsaibashi, 2023

These artificial light falling on people are so close that we feel we can reach 

but stars are invisible due to the dazzling lights on earth.

The year 2023 is going to be over in the carousel of time

with cherished moments as well as anger and sadness on the ongoing incidents worldwide.

See you in 2024, probably in February.

Linked to Mosaic Monday