From Russia With ラブ

Last Monday I attended a Russian Folk Music concert at the Shinjuku Cultural Centre. Over 1,500 guests attended, and I'm pretty sure Jen and I were the only foreigners!
But we were welcomed; we sat next to a lovely old couple dressed in formal kimono who gave us ice cream ^_^
Japanese people are so kind :D

An AEON student of ours performed during the 'blanket dance', where they displayed supreme coordination making shapes and a flower from the blankets.
Finally the concert ended with an orchestra featuring an accordion and a Balalaika, a triangle-shaped acoustic guitar.

I particularly enjoyed the orchestra's rendition of the Tetris A Theme, and the 'audience' participation part where we sang a song in Japanese accampanied by the orchestra.

In stark contrast to the classical concert, I will be taking a day trip to Nagoya to see the heavy rock bands, Finch and Funeral for a Friend, play next weekend. I look forward to travelling on the Shinkansen (bullet train) just before rolling into work next Tuesday morning!

日本の秋 Autumn in Japan

Hikarigaoka's main pedestrian pathway is lined with Ginkgo trees. Although the fruit smells bad (somewhat like faeces in my opinion!), the colour of the leaves have suddenly changed to a striking, uniform yellow.

Observing and celebrating the seasons is a big part of the culture in Japan, and the changing of the leaves is a dramatic visual transition from Summer to Autumn. The three weeks or so while the coloured leaves remain on the trees is a busy time for tourism and events. Parks and popular tourist spots (e.g. Hakone, where I went two weeks ago) are extremely croweded as everyone wants to take a photo!

Today I visited Hikarigaoka kouen or Park. Being the weekend, it was bustling with a flea market, skaters, a tai-chi club, and with families enjoying the Autumn leaves together. The paths were scattered with fallen leaves; it was beautiful!

 

It was very hot (21 or 22 'C), so I played tennis in Hikarigaoka park with four students and with my colleague, Aki-Sensei.

My Neighbour, Fuji-san

 I really sound like my mum in the video!

And here are some pictures :) The one of Mt Fuji is from my front door on the third floor. I have only seen 'him' once since he is usually shrouded by cloud or haze. Mt Fuji lies around 60 miles South West from my flat.

Tokyo Central at night

It is getting chillier in Japan, but nothing like the UK. Christmas decorations are up, and some Christmas music can be heard in the supermarket, but it makes me feel a little homesick!

Hakone Autumn Leaves Viewing

Note: You can click on the photos to enlarge them

Simon, my colleague, Yuki, a student, and Simon's friends Yoko, Matt, Chris and I journeyed South-West of Tokyo to Hakone. Hakone is very close to the infamous volcano, Mt Fuji, and is a volcanically active region, with geothermal vents, hot springs and a beautiful lake.

To get around, we took a train named a RomanceCar, a cable car, a ropeway, pirate ship and a bus!

On the ropeway/cablecar, there were stunning views of the orange trees, the Tokyo metropolis in the far distance, and of Mt Fuji himself. 

富士山/ Mt. Fuji

Owakudani, home of the sulphur-spewing vents, is home to the 黒たまご. They are black eggs cooked by geothermal method and are said to add 7 years to your life for every egg. We partook of one each!

Ｗe traversed Lake Ashinoko by pirate ship and came across a Torii gate after walking through the Ancient Cedar Avenue- a muddy path through cedar trees planted in 1618 to shelter travellers from sun or snow..

  

Mt Fuji to the left, and the mini floating Torii on the right

Finally, we took a bus which followed a windy, dark path down the mountains to the Tenzan onsen (hot spring). The boys and girls separated for nude public bathing, taking respite from the 15C outside temperature in 40-or-so Centigrade hot spring water. The water only had a slight smell, was quite an opaque colour, and was very, very relaxing!