Long Nights? Art is the answer...

The hot humid summer has long gone past, and cold wind is starting to blow now a days. Tokyo has entered the season autumn, and in Japan autumn is said to be the season of reading, eating and art. Since autumn nights are longer than summer, and it is a bit chilly to stay outside so it is said these indoor activities were chosen for one to enjoy in autumn.

JAPANESE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL

Do you remember who won the World Baseball Classic last year and the year before? Yes, it is Team JAPAN that won two consecutive years! As you can tell from that glorious achievement, Japan is strong in baseball! Let's take a sneak peek at the overview of how Japan's professional baseball league works.

NAMCO NAMJATOWN

Have you ever heard of a theme park in a shopping mall!? Well, there is one in Ikebukuro　called "NAMCO NAMJATOWN" run by the famous company Namco. This theme park is located on the 2nd and 3rd floor of Sunshine City. Not only are there attractions that you can enjoy riding, but it is also combined with a food theme park, so it can be enjoyed in many ways.

Hanabi Taikai -Fireworks Festival-

When summer comes, people of various ages in Japan are excited for Hanabi Taikai as Hanabi, or fireworks, symbolizes summer. Hanabi Taikai are firework festivals which occur almost every weekend, especially Saturdays, during mid July to mid August. It is a night event about 2 hours long, where tens of thousands of people gather to watch fireworks one after the other shot into the sky. Many like to wear yukatas to watch fireworks as it brings up the fun and mood. People never get tired of going to Hanabi Taikai as fireworks are always various in colors, shapes, and designs. Families enjoy Hanabi Taikai as they bring family bonding time while watching and voicing their favorite ones. Love birds usually go to Hanabi Taikai for dates, as holding hands and looking at the beautiful fireworks brings about butterflies.


Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai, Aomori Hanabi Taikai and Sendai Tanabata Hanabi Maturi are some of the famous Hanabi Taikai that are well-known and popular to the Japanese citizens. However, there are thousands of these events throughout Japan that are as good, so it is worthwhile to attend to one when you have a chance. Some Hanabi Taikai you can attend in Tokyo are Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai (July 25, Asakusa Station), Tokyo Wan Dai Hanabi-sai (August 8, Kachidoki Station), Chofu-si Hanabitaikai (July 18, Cho-fu Station), Edogawa-ku Hanabi Taikai (August 1, Edogawa Station), Setagaya Tamagawa Hanabi Taikai (August 22, Futakotamagawa Station), and of course, there are much more.

Toshimaen [Wiiii]

Just by taking the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro Station, you can take yourself to one of the most famous amusement parks in Tokyo! That amusement park is called Toshimaen and it is definitely an enjoyable place to spend the upcoming summer days!

As I mentioned, Toshimaen is an amusement park - so of course there are rides and attractions that can be enjoyed! However, there is something much better in Toshimaen that I truly recommend to you – the abundant pools! There are giant wave pools, pools with rapids, pools with waterfalls, pools for competitive swimming, and regular pools that can be enjoyed by people of all ages – with families, friends, and even with your loved one!

There is more than swimming to amuse yourself with at Toshimaen - enjoy the water slides! The water slides are called "HYDRO POLIS". Toshimaen possesses four types of water slides which are also the biggest slides in the prefecture. One type of water slide is the thrilling type. It does not have a snake-shaped path, so you fall straight down with full speed from a height of 22 meters! Other types of water slides to be enjoyed are a tube slide and others that wiggle left and right. Although it takes quite a lot of climbing to get to the top of the water slides, it will fill your heart with excitement.

The water slides here at Toshimaen are among the most famous and most popular water slides in Tokyo; so they are definitely worth experiencing! Why not go to Toshimaen and start your summer off with a splash!

*Entrance fee for the swimming pools at Toshimaen is JPY3800 for adults, JPY2800 for children 110cm and above in height, and JPY1800 for children 110cm and lower in height. Please keep in mind that people with noticeable tatoos will not be accepted into the pool.

Lights, Camera, Action in Tokyo!

Many film creators around the world love the city Tokyo, with its face as an ancient historical place filled with temples and its face as the center of pop culture with the sky rocketing buildings. Because of this dual character, many movies have been filmed here in Tokyo, Japan.

When you think about it, there are too many films to be named. So I'm going to introduce a few films that were filmed recently and are my favorite.

Wasabi (2001)
A French film filmed by Gerard Krawczyk was starred in one of the famous actor in France, Jean Reno and famous actress in Japan, Ryoko Hirosue. The story centers on the yakuza (Japanese mafia) culture in Japan and the film is mainly taken place in Tokyo. Where Yumi (Ryoko) argues with Hubert (Jean) is taken place in Akihabara, the arcade where they play is located in Shibuya.

Kill Bill Vol.1 (2003)
The fourth film made by the Japan loving film creator Quentin Tarantino was filmed in Tokyo as well. The famous fighting scene in the restaurant between Uma Therman and Chiaki Kuriyama was not shot in Tokyo but the place was based as a restaurant in Nishi-Azabu, Tokyo called 'Gonpachi'.

Lost in Translation (2003)
Most of this film, filmed by Sofia Coppola starred by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson took place in Tokyo. After its distribution in 2003, many travel agencies in Japan made a tour package where you can visit most of the place where the film was shot and to stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo (shinjuku) where Bill Murray stayed. Other places taken place in this film was karaoke bar in Shibuya, bars of Nakameguro, and Park Tower Shinjuku.

Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
In this film by Justin Lin, part of the exciting car action scene was filmed in Shinjuku and Meguro. Although the main setting was Shibuya in this film, it was never actually filmed in Shibuya. It was mostly filmed in Los Angeles with the visuals of Shibuya added to the film later.

There are many more movies set in Tokyo yet to be introduced, and many that are still unknown to people. Next time when you stop by at any of these places, why don`t you take your time to snap a picture ? or maybe you can find more locations by watching these films over and over again.

Now enjoy Tokyo more!

SUMO

Sumo is a sport where two wrestlers known as rikishi attempt to push one another out of a circular ring known as the dohyo. Additionally, if a rikishi has been thrown, or any other part of his body aside from the bottoms of his feet has touched the ground he has lost the match. Although it looks an awful lot like it, it's not a sport where two overweight persons try to shove each other out of the ring using their body fat. It's an ancient sport with a long history and background.

It is said that Sumo first began as a religious ritual. Over the years, its ritualized origins have faded away to unveil the sport's face as a fighter. It is said that the first Sumo tournament was started in the 16th century by Oda Nobunaga (shogun). During the following 300 years, the sport underwent a tremendous cultural change; and in 1909, the Ryogoku Kokugi-kan was constructed in Ryogoku as an arena exclusively for sumo.

Basic Rules:
1. The first wrestler to be pushed out of the dohyo, loses.
The wrestler to be thrown or any part of his body aside from the bottoms of his feet has touched the ground, loses.
2. Wrestlers shall not grab on to their opponent's neck.
3. Wrestlers shall not twist their opponent's fingers.
4. No punching.
5. No kicking.

Professional Divisions of Sumo:
Makuuchi
In this division, 42 rikishi are ranked according to their abilities. There are five groups within this division (listed from highest to lowest): yokozuna, ozeki, sekiwake, komusubi, and maegashira.

Juryo
The second highest division of rikishi; ranked immediately below the Makuuchi. The Juryo receive an allowance instead of a salary when placed into this division.

The division of unpaid wrestlers continue below; Makushita, Sandanme, Jonidan, Jonokuchi.

How to wear a mawashi, the formal garment for sumo wrestling:
1. Get a long scarf or cloth to practice with.
2. Have someone available to assist you.
3. Follow the steps as illustrated.