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Statue of Hachi-ko, Shibuya Station

Statue of Hachi-ko (ハチ公像) or Hachiko Square (ハチ公広場) of Shibuya Station (渋谷駅) is a most famous meeting spot in Tokyo. Hachi-ko (ハチ公; November 10, 1923 - March 8, 1935), known in Japanese as chuken Hachi-ko (忠犬ハチ公; "faithful dog Hachi-ko"), aka Hachi, was an Akita dog born on a farm near Odate City, Akita Prefecture, remembered for his loyalty to his owner, even many years after his owner's death in 1924, Hachi-ko was brought to Tokyo by his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno (上野 英三郎), a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo (東京帝国大学 農学部). During his owner's life Hachi-ko saw him off from the front door and greeted him at the end of the day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return on the usual train one evening. The professor had suffered a stroke at the university that day. He died and never returned to the train station where his friend was waiting. Hachi-ko was given away after his master's death, but he routinely escaped, showing up again and again at his old home. Eventually, Hachi-ko apparently realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house. So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachi-ko waited for Professor Ueno to return. And each day he did not see his friend among the commuters at the station. The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachi-ko attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachi-ko and Professor Ueno together each day. They brought Hachi-ko treats and food to nourish him during his wait. This continued for 10 years, with Hachi-ko appearing only in the evening time, precisely when the train was due at the station. In April 1934, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at Shibuya Station (35°39′32.97″N 139°42′2.46″E), and Hachi-ko himself was present at its unveiling. The statue was recycled for the war effort during World War II. In 1948 The Society for Recreating the Hachi-ko Statue commissioned Takeshi Ando (安藤 士), son of the original artist Teru Ando (安藤 照) who had since died, to make a second statue. The new statue, which was erected in August 1948, still stands and is an extremely popular meeting spot. The station entrance near this statue is named "Hachiko-guchi," meaning "The Hachiko Exit," and is one of Shibuya Station's five exits. Hachi-ko was the subject of the 1987 movie Hachi-ko Monogatari (『ハチ公物語』). Hachiko: A Dog's Story, released in August 2009, is an American movie starring actor Richard Gere, directed by Lasse Hallstrom, about Hachi-ko and his relationship with the professor. The movie was filmed in Rhode Island, and also featured Joan Allen and Jason Alexander. (Referred to the site of "Wikipedia.")

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(Sunday 24 January) Hachiko Exit of JR Shibuya Station

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(Sunday 24 January) A view from the Hachiko Exit of JR Shibuya Station

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(Sunday 24 January) Statue of Hachi-ko (b. 1948), Shibuya Station

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(Sunday 24 January) Ellen and Murray in front of the Statue of Hachi-ko, JR Shibuya Station

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum (江戸東京たてもの園) is located in Koganei Park (小金井公園), west of Tokyo: 3-7-1- Sakura-cho, Koganei City, Tokyo (東京都小金井市桜町3−7−1). It is a museum of historic Japanese buildings founded in 1993. The park includes many buildings from the ordinary middle class Japanese experience to the homes of wealthy and powerful individuals such as former Prime Minister Takahashi Korekiyo (高橋 是清, 1854-1936; p. Nov. 1921- Jun. 1922), out in the open in a park. The museum enables visitors to enter and explore a wide variety of buildings of different styles, periods, and purposes, from upper-class homes to pre-war shops, "sento" (銭湯; public baths), and Western-style buildings of the Meiji period, which would normally be inaccessible to tourists or other casual visitors, or which cannot be found in Tokyo. Acclaimed animator Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎 駿, 1941-) often visited here during the creation of his film, Spirited Away (『千と千尋の神隠し』2001), for inspiration. (Referred to the site of "Wikipedia".)

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(Sunday 24 January) "Kyu-Jisho-in Otama-ya" (旧自証院霊屋; Former Mausoleum for Lady Jisho-in), Center Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Lady Jisho-in (自証院; ?-1640) was one of the 3rd Tokugawa Shogun Iemitsu (徳川家光; 1604-1651)'s concubines. This mausoleum was discovered by Professor Michio Fujioka (藤岡通夫) in 1937.

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(Sunday 24 January) Interior of "Kyu-Jisho-in Otama-ya" (旧自証院霊屋; Former Mausoleum for Lady Jisho-in), Center Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) House of Korekiyo Takahashi (高橋 是清, 1854-1936; p. Nov. 1921- Jun. 1922), Central Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. It was built in 1902. Viscount Takahashi Korekiyo (高橋是清 Takahashi Korekiyo), (27 July 1854 - 26 February 1936) was a Japanese politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Japan from 13 November 1921 to 12 June 1922. He was known as an expert on finance during his political career. Despite his considerable success in fighting the effects of the Great Depression of 1929, his fiscal policies involving reduction of military expenditures created many enemies within the military, and he was among those murdered by rebelling military officers in the February 26 Incident (二・二六事件 Ni-niroku jiken) of 1936. This is the house where he was killed. Originally located in 7-chome Akasaka, Minato-ku (港区赤坂七丁目) in central Tokyo.

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(Sunday 24 January) Reproduction of Korekiyo Takahashi's garden in front of House of Korekiyo Takahashi, Central Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) Cosmetic Manufacturer, "Murakami Seika-do" (村上精華堂; 化粧品屋) East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Originally built in 2-chome Ikenohata, Taito-ku (台東区池之端二丁目) along Shinobazu-dori Street (不忍通り) in 1928.

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(Sunday 24 January) Interior of the Cosmetic Manufacturer, "Murakami Seika-do" (村上精華堂; 化粧品屋), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) "Tako-yaki" (たこ焼) stall, East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. "Tako-yaki" (たこ焼き or 蛸焼) (literally fried or baked octopus) is a very popular Japanese dumpling made of batter, diced or whole baby octopus, tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger, and green onion, topped with okonomiyaki sauce, ponzu, mayonnaise, green laver (aonori), and fish shavings (katsuobushi), first popularized in Taisho-era Osaka, where a street vendor named Endo Tomekichi (遠藤留吉, 1907‐1997) is credited with its invention in 1935.

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(Sunday 24 January) Murray and Ellen eat "Tako-yaki" for the first time! East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum.

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(Sunday 24 January) "Uemura-tei" (植村邸; Uemura House), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Originally built in 2-chome Shintomi, Chuo-ku (中央区新富二丁目) in 1927; typical example of the so called "Kanban-kenchiku" (看板建築; lit. signboard architecture) with copper boards in the early Showa era.

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(Sunday 24 January) "Maruni-shouten" (丸二商店), an "Aramono-ya" (荒物屋; kitchenware shop), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Originally built in 3-chome Kanda Jimbo-cho, Chiyoda-ku (千代田区神田神保町三丁目) in the early Showa era (late 1930s).

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(Sunday 24 January) "Takei-Sansho-do" (武井三省堂), a "Bungu-ten" (文具店; stationary store), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Originally built in 1-chome Kanda Suda-cho, Chiyoda-ku (千代田区神田須田町一丁目) in 1927: another example of "Kanban-kenchiku" (看板建築; lit. signboard architecture).

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(Sunday 24 January) "Takei-Sansho-do" (武井三省堂), a "Bungu-ten" (文具店; stationary store), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) Interior of "Takei-Sansho-do" (武井三省堂), a "Bungu-ten" (文具店; stationary store), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) Interior of "Takei-Sansho-do" (武井三省堂), a "Bungu-ten" (文具店; stationary store), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) "Kodakara-yu" (子宝湯; lit. prolific bath), a bathhouse, East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Originally built in Senjyumoto-machi, Adachi-ku (足立区千住元町) in 1929.

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(Sunday 24 January) The watcher's seat (番台) of "Kodakara-yu" (子宝湯; lit. prolific bath), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) The dressing room (脱衣所) of "Kodakara-yu" (子宝湯; lit. prolific bath), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) A typical Japanese bath painting featuring Mt. Fuji, "Kodakara-yu" (子宝湯; lit. prolific bath), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) A typical Japanese bath painting featuring Mt. Fuji and a bathtub at "Kodakara-yu" (子宝湯; lit. prolific bath), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) Ellen in the bathtub of "Kodakara-yu" (子宝湯; lit. prolific bath), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) "Kagi-ya" (鍵屋; lit. house of keys), an tavern (居酒屋; izaka-ya), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Originally built in 2-chome Shitaya, Taito-ku (台東区下谷二丁目) along Kototoi-dori Street (言問通り) in 1856.

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(Sunday 24 January) Interior of "Kagi-ya" (鍵屋; lit. house of keys), an tavern (居酒屋; izaka-ya), East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) Murray & Ellen at "Kagi-ya" (鍵屋; lit. house of keys), an old Japanese tavern (居酒屋; izaka-ya) building, East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) Ellen and Murray in front of an old house, East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum

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(Sunday 24 January) Tenmyo House (天明家), a farm house, East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Originally built in Unoki Village (鵜ノ木村; now 1-chome Unoki, Ota-ku [大田区鵜ノ木一丁目]) in the late Edo Period (in the early 19th century). The Tenmyo was a historic family who served as a "nanushi" (名主; the head of th village).

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(Sunday 24 January) An inside view of the Tenmyo House (天明家), a farm house, East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum: the fireplace

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(Sunday 24 January) An inside view of the Tenmyo House (天明家), a farm house, East Zone, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. Elderlies teach how to make paper pinwheels to kids.

Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

Ghibli Museum, Mitaka (三鷹の森ジブリ美術館) is located at 1-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo (東京都三鷹市下連雀1-1-83) west of Inogashira Park (井の頭恩賜公園). Established in 2001, Ghibli Museum, Mitaka is a commercial museum featuring the Japanese anime work of Studio Ghibli. The museum is a fine arts museum, but does not take the concept of a usual fine arts museum. With many features that are child-oriented and a sprawling and occasionally mazelike interior, the museum is a playfully created place. Centered around the motto appearing on the museum's website "Let's become lost children together" (「迷子になろうよ、いっしょに」), or 'let's lose our way together' as it is translated in the English leaflet. It has no set path or order of viewing.

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(Sunday 24 January) A general view of Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

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(Sunday 24 January) Murray & Ellen at Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

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(Sunday 24 January) A huge android robot (ロボット兵; a robot soldier) appearing in Laputa: Castle in the Sky (『天空の城ラピュタ』, 1986). Ghibli Museum, Mitaka.

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(Sunday 24 January) The huge android robot (ロボット兵; a robot soldier) appearing in Laputa: Castle in the Sky (『天空の城ラピュタ』, 1986). Ghibli Museum, Mitaka: with small kids.

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(Sunday 24 January) The huge android robot (ロボット兵; a robot soldier) appearing in Laputa: Castle in the Sky (『天空の城ラピュタ』, 1986). Ghibli Museum, Mitaka: with small Murray & Ellen.

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(Sunday 24 January) A retreating figure of the huge android robot (ロボット兵; a robot soldier) of Laputa: Castle in the Sky (『天空の城ラピュタ』, 1986). Ghibli Museum, Mitaka.

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(Sunday 24 January) The core stone of "Laputa" (ラピュタ中枢部の石) with the imaginary Laputa letters in the side of the huge android robot (ロボット兵; a robot soldier) of Laputa: Castle in the Sky (『天空の城ラピュタ』, 1986). Ghibli Museum, Mitaka.

Reisen-zan Zenrin-ji Temple

Reisen-zan Zenrin-ji Temple (霊泉山 禅林寺) is a temple of the Obalu-shu sect (黄檗宗) of Zen Buddhism. It was founded in the 13th year of Genroku (元禄13年) or AD 1700 by Zen Priest Dosetsu Bairei (梅嶺道雪 禅師, 1641-1717). The first chief priest was Genyo Kenshu (賢洲元養) who named this temple as Zenrin-ji Temple. The temple was kindly treated by the Tokugawa Shogunate government receiving a huge precinct. The present address is 4-18-20 Shimorenjyaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo (東京都三鷹市下連雀4-18-20). The present head priest is Tokugen Kimura (木村 得玄, 1937-) who is known as an excellent scholar of Buddhism.

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(Sunday 24 January) Murray & Ellen in front of the gate of Reisen-zan Zenrin-ji Temple, 4-18-20 Shimorenjyaku, Mitaka City

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(Sunday 24 January) Grave of Ogai Mori (森鴎外), Reisen-zan Zenrin-ji Temple. His real name Rintaro Mori (森 林太郎) is inscribed on the gravestone. Ogai Mori (森鴎外, February 17, 1862 - July 8, 1922) was a Japanese physician, translator, novelist and poet. Gan (『雁』: The Wild Geese (1911-13)) is considered his major work.

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(Sunday 24 January) Grave of Osamu Dazai (太宰 治), Reisen-zan Zenrin-ji Temple. His real family name "Tsushima-ke" (津島家) is inscribed on the left grave stone. Osamu Dazai (太宰 治) (June 19, 1909 - June 13, 1948) is a Japanese author who is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan. He is noted for his ironic and gloomy wit, his obsession with suicide, and his brilliant fantasy. In the spring of 1948, he was working on a novelette scheduled to be serialized in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, titled "Gutto bai" (Goodbye). On 13 June 1948, Dazai and his lover Tomie Yamazaki (山崎 富栄) finally succeeded in killing themselves, drowning in the rain-swollen Tamagawa Canal (玉川上水) near his house in Mitaka [5 minutes' walk from Ghibli Museum, Mitaka]. Their bodies were not discovered until June 19, which by eerie coincidence was his 39th birthday. (Referred to the site of "Wikipedia.")

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(Sunday 24 January) A monument for the victims of the Mitaka Incident (三鷹事件), Reisen-zan Zenrin-ji Temple. The Mitaka incident (三鷹事件) was an incident that took place on July 15, 1949 when an unmanned 63 series train with its operating handle tied down drove into Mitaka Station on the Chuo Line in Tokyo, Japan killed 6 people and injured 20.

Ninja Akasaka

Established in November 2001, Ninja Akasaka (ニンジャ アカサカ) is a unique Japanese restaurant adopting some elements of the old Japanese secret agents called "ninja" (忍者). Their address is Akasaka Tokyu Plaza 1F, 2-14-3 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (東京都千代田区永田町2-14-3 赤坂東急プラザ1F): 3 minutes' walk from Akasakamitsuke Subway Station if you can find their indistinctive entrance along Sotobori Street (外堀通り).

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(Sunday 24 January) Ellen, me and Murray in front of the entrance to Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) A "kunoichi" (くノ一; female ninja) shows the Happy Birthday scroll, Ninja Akasaka: Ellen's birthday is approaching!

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(Sunday 24 January) Ellen and the "kunoichi" (くノ一; female ninja), Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) Murray & Ellen, Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) Ninja staffs celebrating Ellen's birthday, singing "Happy Birthday to You," Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) Ninja staffs celebrating Ellen's birthday, singing "Happy Birthday to You," Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) Ninja staffs brought her a special cake, of which Murray is taking a picture, Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) (Special Happy Birthday dessert to Ellen (although one more letter "E" is missing between "L" and "N") [8. Today's dessert [八 お楽しみデザート]) ], Ninja Akasaka. Murray and I had the same dessert without a birthday message.

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(Sunday 24 January) Me, Murray and Ellen, Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) Ninja magic show exclusively for us. Ninja Akasaka.

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(Sunday 24 January) The ninja magic show continues exclusively for us. Ninja Akasaka.

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(Sunday 24 January) Murray & Ellen enjoy the ninja magic show at Ninja Akasaka.

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(Sunday 24 January) The Tasting Course starts with "1. Shuriken star-blades grissini" (壱 手裏剣グリッシーニ) as Ellen & Murray show. Ninja Akasaka.

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(Sunday 24 January) "2. Today's special" (弐 お楽しみ), Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) "3. Fried Chicken wing and Cashew nuts with hot chili pepper, promises fire from your mouth" (参 口内炎上 手羽先とカシューナッツ炒め), Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) "4. Capellini with Japanese tomato flavor" (四 和風トマトのカッペリーニ), Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) A ninja staff making "5. Special stone-boiled soup" (五 灼熱投石鍋), Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) "5. Special stone-boiled soup," Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) "6. Main dish: Black enchantment - sweet and sour tender pork [or or Salmon grilled with saikyo miso in rice porridge sauce or Roasted sea bream in japanese "Yuuan" [柚庵] flavor ]" (六 本日の肉料理 または 本日の魚料理 [または サーモンの西京焼き 朝粥ソースがけ または 鯛の柚庵焼き]), Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) "7. Today's Sushi Roll" (七 本日のロール寿司), Ninja Akasaka

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(Sunday 24 January) "9. Coffee [/tea]," Ninja Akasaka