Where has the rainy season gone?

 The end of the 梅雨 Apricot Rains was announced officially on June 27 in Kansai region.

 Rainy season usually ends in mid-July when seasonal rain front is pushed northward
 by a strong Pacific high-pressure system. 

The temperature has hit 35 C or higher since the late June when temperatures 

are typically milder at between 25C and 30C.

I’ve loved the relatively cool weather during the Apricot Rains before the arrival of 

full force of summer. 

There are so many nice things during the season.

Rain-making post - nice things during the rainy season

Nice things during the rainy season, 2017

and all the posts labelled "rainy season"

Hydrangeas are the floral symbol of the Apricot Rains.

Hydrangeas thrive along a brook in the Nagai Botanical Garden, Osaka City.

Agapanthus

It was a hot and humid day.

I tried to be in the shade as much as possible.

Umbrella Sky suspended on a path is a popular insta-worthy spot.

These umbrellas would have served mostly as parasols during the short-lived, 

dry rainy season.

The ethereal sound of the wind bell brings out the coolness.

I love blue Hydrangeas.

Vibrant red Common coral-tree flowers and violet-colored Jacaranda shine in the summer sun.

Photographic summary of the botanical garden.

At home, the cake named Hydrangea reminded me of the Hydrangea garden.

Hydrangea Garden and a cake "Hydrangea"

Linked to Mosaic Monday

A glimpse into Expo 2025

Hearing from my daughter that her family had a great time at the Expo 2025 

at Yumeshima Island, Osaka,

I made up my mind suddenly to visit there just to see what it is like.

 I registered for an Expo ID, bought a week-day ticket, reserved admission date and time,

and I was there the next day May 8th.

The white big circle in the map below is the Grand Ring, which  is a representative symbol 

of the Expo Osaka and is the largest architectural structure in the world.

The central zones of the venue with overseas pavilions is enclosed within the Grand Ring

 as the notion of the world as one.

Though Japan Pavilion itselfl is outside the Ring, other Japanese pavilions are inside the Ring.

Expo 2025 Official Site

The Grand Ring is a vast circular structure with a circumference of 2 kilometers.

The Skywalk, the pathway on the roof, is two-tired, rising 12 to 20 meters high.

It is made of local woods, from hinoki cypress to sugi cedar.

Under the Ring is shaded and very cool with comfortable breeze from the sea.

It is the fusion of cutting-edge and traditional Japanese carpentry nuki-joints techniques 
seen in Japanese shrines and temples. 

Metal reinforcements are added for anti-earthquake measures.

Nuki is Japanese style of joint connection.

The Forest of Tranquility located at the center of the Expo site symbolizes  

humans' coexistence and harmony with nature.

It is a relaxing place amid the hustle and bustle of the site.

There are many fantastic buildings I've never seen before.

The unique, distinctive, experimental architecture is possible

because the temporal pavilions are not subject to the building standard code.

Some pavilions including Portugal, Commons-D, The US, France, Ireland, 

Canada, and Germany Pavilions

Autonomous  trash box robots patrol about 2-kilometer Grand Ring 

except on rainy days and extremely crowded days.

Visitors can dispose of trash as they pass by.

I walked along the Ring looking over the pavilions and the sea as well as skywatching.

A large globe "Earth at Night" with a diameter of 1 meter is Wajima-nuri lacquerware which is 

characterized by the delicate beauty of its jet black and gold coloring. 

The globe is a symbol of reconstruction, having miraculously remained undamaged in the Noto Earthquake January 1st, 2024.

Wajima Museum of Urushi Art

The sun is setting over the Rokko Mountains.

I'll return in the late September as  I could reserve admission to Italy Pavilion.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Happy holidays!

With only ten days left this year, I’d like to thank you all for encouraging and inspiring me 
in the blogsphere throughout the year.

I also hope you spending this special time of year in a relaxed way enjoying what you like to do.

It's gotten quite chilly these days after five months of summer

and only one month of autumn.

Ginkgo leaves are still beautiful even in the late-December.

Dec. 16th

My husband and I are having the secular Christmas only between two of us
and celebrating the New Year with all the family members. 

Origami ornaments for Christmas by M

                                                  

December is the most eventful month in my family.

My son, the eldest and the youngest grandchild F and M, were born in December.

S completed Kobe Full Marathon in November

 Merry Christmas and Joyous New Year!

Linked to Mosaic Monday

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