Autumn (Tokyo Studio)
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October 14th, 2008
It’s nearly mid-October and it’s still raining. The Japan Meterological Agency predicted a 60% chance of rain between this afternoon and tomorrow morning. When they say it is going to rain, it really rains – non-stop.
Despite this prediction we headed off to explore Kanda and Hongo – the old cultural historical center of Tokyo (now more of a university/medical district). Kanda-Jimbocho’s bookshop area is, as the description implies, full of bookshops – mostly second-hand bookstores. Some are general and some house rare antique collections. Others may have a specialised focus: film, music, arts, social sciences, military interests, biology, ecology or spicific animals- buttiflies are very popular in Japan.
Kanda and its surrounding areas still function like they once did – organically organised into specialised quarters. Meiji University occupies Kanda whilst across the Kandagawa (river) The University of Tokyo and Tokyo Medical and Dental University dominate Hongo. Some students may find the nearby sporting goods area and the electric store district of Akihabara (east of Kanda) handy, whilst others, perhaps who don’t do so well in their exams, could find the dreams offered by the abundant musical instruments stores, mostly electric guitars, very tempting indeed.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
since we’re bookish today… why is this particular pentad called “wild geese come as guests/wild geese come”?
as guests of whom?
and why the double up?
news from new south wales:
i am already eating rocket planted just after you guys left. tomatoes have small fruit appearing. lettuces are 8 cm high now. beans have cute white flowers on them. lawn needs mowing. windows open at night. first mosquito bites.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
When I ‘designed’ the almanac, I decided to use the original Chinese pentads (the horizontal characters at the bottom). Then when I started to post, I decided to add the modern Japanese version as well. So the last pentad just completed has the modern Japanese description matching the original Chinese one.