Meanwhile back in Nihon

Maple Street on a rainy day

simplicity at the Cafe Cosy Cottage

and speaking of lunch (and i was to myself) "oishisoo" and "oishikatta"

waiting in line after a day and night of jazz music in Takatsuki

tony taking a break. since the tsutsuji (azalea) are in full bloom, it must be May. and if it was May, you know where i was and why i was there.

while waiting in line to see Fried Pride, i noticed this cautious fellow jazz enthusiast. and what did i notice?

one of my favorite songs, Pat Metheny's Long Train Home. of course, this is not Pat Metheny and the main intrument is not a guitar but this guy whose name i have misplaced (in my mind) is an excellent saxophonist. unfortunately, my battery was running low and i only recorded the first part of the song.

*late afternoon update. the above saxman is Mitsuhiro Furuya. thanks, Noriko.

te-kata-kata and some more highlights from my last trip to Japan

for a dear Friend

a fun highlight from about one month ago . . .

feel free to join in :  )

not sure why

guess who he is

a definite highlight from the Takatsuki Jazz Street festival.  and yes, that is Tomi-san on trombone.

excellent guitarist with a cool blue guitar

this mosaic was on the side of a department store in Takatsuki.  i need to start practicing again on my sanshin.  no sun again today.  

almost a week

well, it has been almost one week since i arrived. no swine flu yet. but, Noriko is feeling a little sick. hopefully she will receive some medicine for her sore throat at the nearby clinic. she had her heart set on seeing Tamaki Hiroshi at Senri-chuo but she may have to stay home and rest. i will wait to see how she is feeling before i make any plans. here are some photos from last sunday on the first day of the Takatsuki Jazz Street music festival. yes, that is Rolly. no, that is not the real Ronald McDonald.