Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai - The last World Expo I visited in my life

Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai held at Yumeshima Island was closed on the 13th of October.

Japan's first World Expo was also held in Osaka in 1970 when I was a college student.

I hadn't imagined two World  Expos in Osaka in my lifetime.

On both occasion, I enjoyed exploring unique national cultural heritage of each country 

and future technologies. 

This time I especially enjoyed walking around the immense two-tiered circular walkway 

of the Grand Ring which symbolizes “Unity in Diversity.”

The Grand Ring at night from here

(More about the Grand Ring is in my June post A glimpse into Expo 2025.)

Myaku-Myaku is the mascot for Expo 2025 Osaka. 

The Japanese word "脈 myaku"  means pulse. The repetition of "myaku" represents

 the continuous flow of life and knowledge from generation to generation.  

The highlight of my second visit to Expo 2025 was the  several world-class masterpieces 

at the Italy Pavillion.

Italian mascot and bee hive

Just looking at the fantastic, unique, or experimental architecture was fun.

The exterior of NullNull Pavilion composed of mirror-like materials constantly transform 

while reflecting the surroundings and visitors.

BTW, the first female Prime Minister was born in Japan where gender equality index 

has been very low.

Sanae Takaichi is a self-made politician, not a hereditary one, with strength, humility, and flexibility.

She is highly competent, insightful, and has made tremendous efforts for policy-making

as is called "a walking encyclopedia of government policies."

I'd like to correct some of the misleading overseas media reports about her from my point of view.

She is taking the right position for Japan's tradition and geo-political situation.

This is a puzzling point that some female liberals who have been advocating diversity 

and female empowerment started criticizing her. 

Takaichi shows sincere global considerations while she is committed to preserving

 cultural uniqueness and distinctiveness of the nation as a staunch concervative.

What's needed in politicians is whether they can do their job to make results 

for the good of the nation.

I hope she'll  turn people's anxieties about their present and future into hope 

and tackle with the rising prices to build a strong economy.

What will be our judgement in the next election?

Back to the talk of World Expo, I wrote my thoughts on the Expo 1970 Osaka

 in the 2018 post  "Progress and Harmony for Mankind"

I have a question for you.

What is the thing closely related to your everyday life that has progressed most

 in nearly half a century?

I think of two things.

1. At the Expo '70, TOTO featured "Washlet," an early version of the Japanese toilet with integrated  bidet functions and heating.  Now high-tech toilet is a standard fixture in Japanese homes and at public facilities.

2. "Dream Telephone" exhibited at the NTT Pavilion was a revolutionary wireless device, which led us into this amazingly connected world.  It developed in the process  from carphones to the first generation of mobile phones and to the present smartphones.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Somewhere between winter and spring

It's March!

Ume blossoms, the floral harbinger of spring of Japan, have brightened up 

the pale wintry landscape.

March is the month when changes happen dramatically repeating cold and warm spells

as is Japanese saying 三寒四温 meaning "three cold days, four warm days."

This year, however, the changes have been occurring record early since the first snowfall in January.

Temperature topped 24C on February22.

Winter and spring have alternated.

Medical care workers are taking the first jab of vaccine against COVID-19

but the vaccination project is largely delayed.

Plans for spring is up in the air in spite of an air of expectation.

But spring will come for sure.

March 3 is time-honored Doll's Festival dedicated to girls.

One day in mid-February, I rolled up my sleeves and got busy to display 

a set of hina dolls on the seven-tired stand.

The time-consuming, tough work was paid off by the joyful reaction of 

three-year-old M living nearby.

Empress Doll and the view from the top

Dolls' Festival is a celebration for healthy growth and wellbeing of girls.

 Dolls are believed to protect people from diseases and misfortunes.

I'm thankful to be able  to watch over how my grandchildren (not only girls)

 growing individually through their various different challenges - ballet, 

swimming, abacus, music, shogi, flower arrangement, soccer, academic skills, etc.

Rolled sushi, gyoza, hamburger steak, bento for picnic, strawberry cake - all of my Grands like cooking.

F and Y finished the primary course of "Ikebana", the art of traditional flower arrangement.

Dolls' Festival is a tasteful celebration, too.

"Chirashi zushi/sushi" (bottom in the mosaic) is made with lotus roots, 

boiled shrimps, thinly shredded eggs, salmon roes or smoked salmons, etc., as you like, 

on the vinegared rice.

As to other delicacies, look at this past post Cheers to Hina dolls and Womanhood!

Last week, two of my friends and I got together, not virtual but in person at my home.

Air was chilly but the sun was quite kind while we were outside.

We had tasteful conversation wearing one or two masks...., 

wishing of the talk over lunch or refreshment someday as we used to do.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Warm, sunny autumn days

Autumn has been here in my part of the world, a very mild, warm autumn.

It has been sunny almost every day.
Strong sunlight has made people feel like summer days.

Camellia Sasanqua started blooming in my garden.

On the day of the autumn harvest festival of the local shrine in the late October,

the “mikoshi”, or portable shrine, was carried around the town.

 Local children are always a part of it.

The parade passes by very close to my house every year.

For the first time in his life, my husband has been in a hospital for a surgery.

The surgery was for his spinal stenosis.

The doctor made a single, long cut to remove the bone spurs at the three places

 that were putting pressure on his nerves.
Everything is going fine.
The potato mushroom potage eased my heart and body 
when I was waiting for the finish of his surgery.

 Athletic Meeting, Halloween, playing outside....

grandchildren couldn't keep still, as always!

Otober events

Last week, I accompanied my daughter's family to the nearby park.
I was realized it was in the attire of incredible vibrant colors.

Nov. 15th

How happy to have fun and laugh in the splash of colors!

The little children's loved grandpa is coming home soon.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

Cheers to Hina Dolls and Womanhood!

"Yamato Hina Dolls Festival" heralds the early spring of the castle town, Yamato-Koriyama City.

At about 130 places, hina dolls of each era, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji,
and much older ones are displayed.

On a warm, sunny day I walked around the historical street of the city

meeting with hina dolls rich in pageantry.

 - At the Machiya-monogatari building, former Kawamoto residence -

Yamato-Koriyama is home to "machiya," or merchant town houses
of which front features wooden lattices.

I peeped into the inside of the residence through the latticed window. 

Inside the house, various different hina dolls were displayed in each room.

The top photo of this post is tiers of hina dolls accompanied by the hanging-hina of gold fish.
Gold fish is the principal products of the city.

Dolls are in the bamboos or on the staircase with elaborate plans.

The three-story structure (1913) worked as a licensed red-light hall till 1958.

Looking up from the courtyard

- At the Hakomoto building -

This place is a traditional dye workshop Konya

located at the craftsman's quarter where indigo dyeing was thriving in the past.

Hanging-hina is made by hand using old kimono cloths.

Hanging-hina doesn't require the big space for the arrangement 

and child can play by touching it.

All these ornaments are handmade.

- At Suzuki residence-

This pair of dolls is from the era of Kyoho (1716-1736),

the oldest I met during my walks.
They feature longer, slender faces and long-slit narrow eyes
according to the times they were made.

The third of March is Hinamatsuri, Dolls Festival, or Girls Festival.

Here's a small party to pray for the healthy growth of the girls 

and to celebrate womanhood at home.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

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Goodbye Summertime, 2017

It feels that time passes faster as I age.

Summer is the time for me to slow down.

Do you like summer?

To be honest, summer isn't really my favorite season.

When temperature is high with oppressive humidity, my spirit is low.
This summer was especially so.

In the scorching sun, many sunflowers look tired
with their heads bending low.

In the stillness, only cicadas sing vigorously.

Their untiring singing pierces the sultry air and seeps into the pond.

Daibutsu-ike Pond, 4 p.m.

As a child, however, I would like summer.

I recall the free, comfortable, and carefree days with nostalgia.

On July 23 every year, Jizo-bon Festival is held at Y’s kindergarten.

Jizo (we call Ojizo-sama) is a guardian for children.
I think this is one of the good opportunities for the little ones
to learn about their roots.

In the morning, kindergartners gather wearing traditional summer kimono yukata or jinbe

and dedicate a concert to Ojizo-sama.

The evening session includes, games, hands-on experiences, foods and snacks, and Bon-Odori dance.

Not only kindergarteners but also those who left enjoys the festival 

on the first day of their summer holiday,

wishing for healthy and fun summer break to Ojizo-sama.

Center: 3-year-old, 4-year-old, and 5-year-old classes from the top

Mid-August is the time to think about peace.

The 15^th of August is the memorial day of the end of WWII.

The people who experienced the war have taught us 
how miserable and devastating a war can be.

Have the people of my generation sown the seeds of peace to the future generation
so that they can harvest it? 

Sagi-ike Pond, 5:30 p.m.

The end of WWII falls on the last day of Obon, the period 
when the soul of ancestors are supposed to come back home.
The whole country comes into somber but peaceful mood
thinking about the late loved ones and ancestors
thanking for why we are here now.
At the Tokae Candle Lighting Festival in Nara Park, candles are lit 
one by one to pray for the repose of the soul.

Sagi-ike Pond, 8:00 p.m.

 After Obon, usually mornings and evenings get cooler day by day
but heat wave was more powerful this year.
Being outside, I felt like that I was in sauna.

Now that the air has become cooler and crisp,
I think it's time for me to face the blog world again.
Hope you had a wonderful summer or winter.

Linked to Weekend Reflections
Mosaic Monday