Fields of Green

Cotton candy clouds over a field of tea bushes.

Off With The Old...?

Today is the last day to vote for the National Parliamentary Election.

The candidates had their final chance to speak out last night. This is the candidate for the Democratic Party in our district. During the election period, the exits around the stations are filled with supporters and staff, even the candidates themselves, asking the poeple to vote. It's pretty much a fiesta.

This election is especially festive, seeing as the Democratic Party may have a chance at ousting the long ruling Liberal Democratic Party. If this happens it'll be a very big change. Or not. You never know with the politics here in Japan.

We'll just have to see how it turns out!

Who Gets Your Vote?

These are the posters for the candidates of our district for the national parliamentary election.

Everyone is wondering if the Democratic Party will finally oust the Liberal Democratic Party, who have governed Japan almost continuously since 1955.

I took this photo the day after these were posted, and already someone has starting drawing on the candidates faces. They're probably going to get even more artistic in time. Which ever party ends up winning, somethings never change.

House in the Mirror

Walking along a path between two tea fields.

Summer End

I bit more of those sunflowers. With the sky so dark, it really feels like the summer is coming to an end.

While I was there, I actually played assistant for a very nice cameraman. I got to hold the reflection board while he took photos of the sunflowers. It was fun. He had a really cool Olympus camera.

To Be Your Sunflower

This is one of the many many sunflowers that were planted in the 'Himawari Batake' (sunflower field). I think the number was close to 10,000 sunflowers.

Every year some of the businesses in Tokorozawa get together to plant these sunflowers for its citizens. It's part of their campaign to liven up the city.

Standing in the middle of a sunflower field just gives you a really great feeling.

Nice Ride

I was walking towards the station when I looked down and saw this really great car. Didn't know we had these in Tokorozawa.

Tachigui Soba

Sayama Soba is a tachigui soba shop, meaning you eat Soba standing up. Places like this are pretty common here, especially the ones inside the train stations. And usually we hear that the quality isn't very good, but the one inside Tokorozawa station is actually really popular.

You can choose either Soba (buckwheat noodle) or Udon (wheat/flour noodle) and all the noodle dishes are about 350yen.

Sometimes when you get off the train, even if you're not hungry, the aroma of soba will make you want to eat it before heading back home.

Mikami Iron Shop

This is Mikami Iron Shop. Well, part of it.

They've got a lot of wires and ropes hanging around the place.

Sometimes when I go by here during the day, they've got big heavy machines making big noises in the workshop. I really want to watch them working but since I'm usually at work during the day, I keep on missing the action.

What's the Story, Morning Glory

Off with the old and on with the new! This archway was covered with roses before, but now they're morning glories, which are just as pretty.

The Flower and the Bud

I love this flower. The almost white barely pink color makes it look really delicate. Especially against all the bushes behind it.

Neon Reflections

Weird lights reflecting agains the wall. Pretty cool.

Manga Manga Manga

This is at the bookstore inside the Tokorozawa station building. They have a pretty big manga/comic book section. There's always a lot of people standing around and reading.

I'm not a die hard fan of manga, but I read them from time to time. One of my favorites is 'Saint Onisan' or 'Saint Young Men.' I'm not too sure about the title translation, but the story is really funny. It's about Buddha and Jesus, who come down to live on earth for a vacation in Tachikawa, a city in Tokyo. They room together in this small apartment, where they are sometimes visited by Jesus's best bud, Gabriel, or Buddah's followers. It has a lot of buddhist and christian humor in it, plus you actually learn stuff about both religions, in a funny way.

Pretty Purple Petals

Whew. Finally my computer is up and running and although I'm still sort of chained to my desk at work, I've got a bit more free time now.

Anyways, I spotted this precious purple flower from all the way down the road. It really stood out against the bush and I had to take a picture of it.

Does anyone know what this flower is called?

Wind Chimes

A Japanese wind chime. It makes this really great tinkling noise in the wind. They were selling them at the flower shop by the station. Great to hang by the window during the summer!

Fuzzy Wuzzy

It's raining again! I found these plants enjoying the drizzle by the side of the road. I have no idea what they're called but they didn't seem to mind the rain.

Surprisingly I didn't either.

Taxi Anyone???

Before you know it, it's Theme Day again! Where do the days go??? This month the theme is 'Night.'

This is the West Exit at night. The taxi's are waiting in line for customers because after the last train goes, everyone has to take a taxi. I think it's about 710yen for the first 2km, then 90yen every 300m after that.

Anyways, I just want to know if the taxi door's open and close automatically anywhere else in the world? Or is that just a Japanese thing?

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