Milky Way on Earth

July 7th is Tanabata or Star Festival,  based on  the Chinese legend which is the sad story about two star-crossed lovers. Only once a year on July 7th, the two lovers  are allowed to meet,  crossing the Milky Way  if the weather is fine.

On the night of July 7th, Milky Way appeared in Nakanoshima, Osaka. About fifty thousand blue LED bulbs were thrown into the river and filled it with ephemeral subtle twinkling.

This event was held also to pray for the recovery of Tohoku Area hit by hideous earthquake on March 11th.

Some of my former high-school classmates and I had a reunion to enjoy this Milky Way together.  Unfortunately for the two lovers,  the night was rainy.   But the blue Milky Way gave us even more fantastic coolness because of rain. We were so enchanted that we forgot to make a wish. But we noticed that we have not seen the real Milky Way for a long time. Our cities are too bright to allow us to see the stars. We wondered when was the last time we had seen Milky Way in the sky.  It was so long ago that we could not remember. Oh, no! How about you?

After 9 o'clock, they started to collect LED bulbs.
Too soon!

Before the event, we had dinner together.
Chatting, chatting, chatting! This is a typical Japanese cuisine;
raw fish, Tempura, cooked vegetables, sesame Tofu, noodle, rice and more.

Lotus flowers and water lilies are blooming. Perhaps now is the best time
 to enjoy their beauty. A breeze over a pond gently makes ripples.

Five swallow chicks left the nest one day before Star Festival, on July 6th.

Near the nest, their Mom is feeding them.

My camera has been my best friend, but she has not been well. So now she is in a camera hospital.　The last two photos were taken by her, but the photos of Milky Way were taken with another camera which I 'm not yet  used to. I don't know when she will be back.  Meanwhile, I may use old photos or just slow down and take fewer photos, because I may not be able to take satisfactory photos or not such good ones with another camera. I miss my old camera・・・・・

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Reflection, Which One Do You Like?

This is the sunset that  I viewed  in Osaka. Every second, the town  was changing its face. Which one do you like the best?

                                                        

Reflection, Running Man is Back In Osaka!!

This is a gigantic neon of Ezaki Glico Co along Dotonbori River lined with restaurants or theaters - the livest heart of southern Osaka City.  Ezaki Glico Co, Japanese confectionery company in Osaka , was  founded in 1922. This big neon sign has been a popular landmark of Osaka.  On March 12h, one day after the deadly catastrophe hit the northern Japan, the lights had been turned out to express the deepest condolences for the victims as well as to save energy . 

This iconic neon "Running Man" came back on April 4th with an added banner saying "We want to send a smile to everyone". Yes,we do believe that  there will be more smiling faces tomorrow!

Look at the sky. The color of the sky is changing form blue, orange, red to black with stars.

 The banner says "We want to send a smile to everyone."

 A sightseeing boat is coming.

The boat is gone.

Did you see American action film "Black Rain" starring Michael Douglas, released in 1989? This neon appeared in the film.

                                                           

Funny Funny Osaka People! Black Mayonnaise and Catherine

I was born in Kyoto and raised in Osaka. I have lived in Tokyo for seven  years. And now I live in Nara. Sometimes I miss  funny Osakans who are really born comedians.

Funny Advertisement in Osaka

This poster was so impactful that it stopped me walk and made me chuckle.  "Alone, Vancouver!" Soon I started to make a story about the chubby man in the poster.

"His dream was to be a figure skater and to perform in the Olympics. However things were not favorable to him, and he had to give up his dream. Maybe he was not talented enough or his appearance did not allow him to be a figure skater. But hearing  news of  the coming Vancouver Olympics, he rekindled his old dream. Now he is standing at the skating rink in Hira-Pa alone, wearing a flashy costume and posing."
"What a genius made such a funny poster!" , I thought.

Hira-Pa is the shortened name of Hirakata Park which is the oldest amusement park in Japan, and located in Hirakata city, Osaka. It is famous for beautiful chrysanthemum dolls in autumn.

One of Black Mayonnaise- the name of  comedy duo, Kosugi has been advertising Hira-Pa as a mascot character "Hira-Pa Niisan" which is the shortened name of "Hirakata Park no Oniisan" meaning Brother in Hirakata Park.

 What is going on in Hirakata Park now? The park  is  in the middle of election campaign spree to choose  Kosugi or another Black Mayonnaise,Yoshida for the second Hira-pa Niisan. Which one is  more suitable as Hira-Pa Niisan?  But, why did the election campaign start?

Because, one day very disturbing fact was disclosed. The disclosure is that  present Hira-Pa Niisan, Kosugi has been to Hira-Pa only once and  moreover, he likes a certain theme park in Osaka more than Hira-Pa.  On the contrary, Yoshida has been to Hira-Pa more than fifty times and  loves Hira-Pa the best.  Yoshida started claiming he would be better Hira-Pa Niisan than Kosugi. Here started the very heated election campaign- "The Hira-Pa Niisan Senkyo", "Election for Hira-Pa Niisan".  The fans of Black Mayonnaise are being confused, complaining that to force them to choose one of Black Mayonnaise is cruel, but at the same time they are enjoying this great joke and are  indulged in the very stupid spree . You can join this funny election to vote for in Hira-Pa until 22nd November. Only two days more!  Which one do you choose?

They have been  issuing their manifestos,  holding down each other and speaking ill of each other. Hira-Pa Niisan election  campaign is here.

Last minute apple-polishing!

Funny Bus Tour in Osaka

This is Duck Tour in Osaka. As the name shows, a bus is amphibian.  The windows of the bus are open without any glass. So, it is extremely hot in summer and freezing in winter. But in the bus, the temperature is always very  high because of a bus tour  guide.

This is  Catherine, a tour guide. She is a typical " Osaka no Obachan", literally meaning an ant of Osaka who is over kind,  very talkative, very curious and very very funny.

Catharine is a very funny and informative guide. She  tells us many interesting things about Osaka. Occasionally she says " Let's shout Ooooh!"  With our fists up, we shout "Ooooh"  very loudly. Whenever she finds  familiar faces, she shouts to them from the the bus, "Hello! How are you?" "Thank you, your coffee is very good!" and more. The loud, noisy shouts make pedestrians or passers-by startled. Soon we  find loudly shouting in the middle of  a big city like Osaka is a greater fun than expected.

This is the most dangerous moment for us when the bus goes from the land to the river.  A staff member of the Duck Tour company anxiously  watches the moment at the river bank. If he smiles, it means everything is all right. But, he frowns longer and makes us worried. Catherin says that  he enjoys acting more and more. The total tour takes 100 minuets. After the tour is finished, we will have released all stresses.

This huge duck has nothing to do with Duck Tour.