summer pictures of Asakusa
I went to see the Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai (Sumida River Fireworks Festival) yesterday with some friends. It was really great! I've already made a metal note to choose a nicer spot to sit in next year. While my purpose was to watch the spectacular fireworks display, I couldn't help but do some people watching as well. I hope you guys will like these pictures. cheers!
girls in yukatas waiting for their ice cream
modern day coolie trying to convince customers for a ride
couple sharing a smile while waiting for the fireworks display
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Tsukuba Japenglish – 1
Engrish.com has been on top of my bookmarked websites for many years, and not surprisingly, Tsukuba is also awash with its own version of Engrish. With camera in hand, one needs only a few hours in Tsukuba Center and its environs to capture some of the best and most hilarious Engrish in Japan.
This week, allow me to begin a series on Tsukuba’s own Japenglish with this photo below:
I never knew that in Matsushiro there’s a place where you can specifically buy pigs. Check out the Matsushiro Shoppig Center!
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Feel free to contribute to this series. If you’re not a contributing blogger, please send your digital photo to me (tpbnt(a)yahoo(dot)com) and I will be glad to post it for you -- with your byline, of course!
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Words of Encouragement
We now have seven people signed up to "Blog for Tsukuba". That is about five more than I expected, so I am really pleased!
I would like to offer all of our Tsukubloggers encouragement to blog more often. I'm sure it's really boring for our readers just to read messages from me all the time! Your posts don't have to be long and they can be on any topic that relates to your life in Tsukuba. I have been posting information about restaurants and events, but you don't have to follow that pattern. Anything that will help people see Tsukuba from your perspective is welcome. Daddy B's posts on the Sakura area are wonderful, and I loved Renato's thoughts on pigeons! I hope to hear from the other contributors soon.
Also, if you wish, you can post a self introduction. It might be interesting to see who we have here... students, researchers, teachers, others?
If possible, I would really like to see at least one post per blogger per week. If that is not possible, then don't worry about it -- it's just an idea. Your posts can include your thoughts on life in Tsukuba or reports on events or places. My goal is for this site to become a place for people who are (1) thinking of moving to Tsukuba, (2) already in Tsukuba, or (3) back in their home country (or elsewhere) after a stay in Tsukuba to get a sense of what is happening in Tsukuba right now. And I don't just mean the events, but also the "feeling" in Tsukuba -- how Tsukuba's residents feel about their lives here.
I would like to build up a loyal readership of the blog and get people to think of it as an important Tsukuba resource, on par with Alien Times, Tsukuba Wiki, and the City of Tsukuba website -- but even better than those in a certain sense because it is totally "bottom up" and "for the people by the people".
I hope, too, that people feel free to comment on the blog articles in order to add their perspectives to our contributions. People of Tsukuba have your say!
Too lofty a goal? Perhaps. But you can't blame me for dreaming!
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Homemade Sausages and Ham
In my travels, I happened upon a shop called Kaiser. At first I thought it might be a bakery, but it turns out that it sells homemade sausages and ham.
It is located near the Coco's on Nishi Odori closest to Route 354. The address is Inarimae 26-1. Go straight down Nishi Odori and turn left at the Coco's across from the National Institute of Environmental Studies. Turn right immediately after the intersection (right beside Coco's) and follow that road for a bit. You will see the store on your left.
I went with a friend and she bought some ham, so I will try to remember to ask her if it was good. I just thought I should let all of you know about this unique store.
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Gardening Plots for Sale
Tsukuba Family Farm Opening Soon!
15 minute walk from Kenkyuu Gakuen Station.
A garden right in front of the station.
Do you want to start a family garden?
Would you like to have some space for a private vegetable garden?
You can get 5 tsubo (about 16.5m3) for 5000 yen per year or 10 tsubo (about 33m3) for 9600 yen per year.
And the quality of the land is guaranteed!
You might want to consider this offer if you answer "YES" to any of the following.
* Do you have an interest in organic vegetables?
* Do you find it hard to get enough exercise in your daily life?
* Do you want to work on something together with your family?
* Do you want your children to experience gardening?
* Do you want something to do after you retire?
What can you grow?
* Spring (March to May): cabbage, onions, squash, lettuce, spinach, etc.
* Summer (June to August): tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, edamame, potatoes, etc.
* Autumn (September to November): spinach, daikon, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc.
* Winter (December to February): broccoli, white cabbage, cauliflower, shungiku, etc.
You can grow over 30 kinds of vegetables during the year.
You will probably make lots of mistakes at first, but soon you will become a professional! An experienced gardener is available to give you advice on the weekends.
Make your own garden at your own pace.
Enjoy the scenery, with Mt. Tsukuba in the background, Kenkyuu Gakuen Station in front, and the blue sky and clean air all around.
66 plots available.
Shimo Hiratsuka
In front of Kenkyuu Gakuen Station
15 minutes walk from Kenkyuu Gakuen Station
4 minute walk from Torisen Supermarket
In front of the new shopping center
Tsukuba Family Gardens in Yoshihara
Contact:
Taniguchi Kikaku
029-846-5080 or 090-3046-2854
taniguchi [AT] y7.dion.ne.jp
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