a long walk . . . to the front gate, live music, a waterfall and a delicious pre-birthday dinner

前川 お父さん。 no, this isn`t last year`s photo. this was today around noon. he was very happy to be out of his bed, and out of the house for the first time in 5 weeks since he returned from the hospital. he doesn't know or doesn't remember i am leaving tomorrow.


Tempo Feliz. 幸せ時間 　Happy Time. 　beautiful music from wonderful musicians. and did you hear me being interviewed on 81.6? i really wanted to say "thank you" to the Maekawa Family for once again letting me be a part of their Family this Ohanami 2010 but my "interview" didn`t last too long. maybe next time. thank you.


Minoo Taki (waterfall). finally, i made it to the falls for my second and last visit of this ohanami trip.



Tori-den. this is where Noriko took me for my birthday eve dinner. if we had come here tomorrow they would have given me a free dessert and sang "happy birthday" to me. maybe next year. for this cherry blossom visit, this will be my last dinner. gochisosama deshita. and honto ni arigatou gozaimashita. who will make my dinner with me on my birthday?

more of this and that, some of that, and finally more music

and which room of this house is this new ikebana?

today and tomorrow

the day after a day of rain

and you thought i had forgotten about one of my favorites, the tanpopo (with hanabira, fallen cherry blossom petals)

hananeko

Top Batter

Kanno Sakura

he likes pink (not that there is anything wrong with that)

my kind of girl . . . taking a photo with a camera and a keitai (cell phone) at the same time while listening to live music.

Wakayama Love Song

for Tamami-san`s husband

#20

Onaji Hanashi

Sheena


Viva Love

same story. my destination was seeing Humbert Humbert at Club Quattro in Shinsaibashi but by arriving early, i was able to hear two separate and totally different bands. one was playing Irish music on the sidewalk near Parco and the other was playing inside Miki Gakki (music shop, gakki is imstrument). both were excellent. and then a couple of hours later, i was able to see and hear the wonderful Humberto Humbert. a big okini (thank you) to Noriko for this early birthday present. their encore was my favorite song, Onaji Hanashi (same story) which i i have added the video from youtube twice. more about all that tomorrow. it was a day of firsts here at home as i picked up Noriko`s Father and sat him a wheelchair near the front (not sure what to call this sliding door/window/access to the washing hanging outside to dry) area. he looked happy to be able to see some cherry blossoms petals floating by was well as being able to see the blue sky, his pine tree and the kazaguruma (pin wheel) i gave him last year. and then later as we were leaving for Senri-chuo, some of Noriko`s relatives stopped by. i think it was the first time for me to meet them. time for bed. i will add one or two photos from today but no photos allowed in Club Quattro.

before the concert

after the concert

once in orange moon

it is always nice with Noriko`s Mother`s relatives from Nara come for a visit. it takes them about 2 hours by bus and train to get here and of course another two hours to return. they recently returned from visiting their son and his wife and baby in Thailand. i am sure they were tired after that journey which makes it especially thoughtful that they come all this way today.

i was able to sneak away for a few hours to hear some live music at Senri-chuo. good music as always but it was very cold sitting for a little over two hours outside as the afternoon became the evening. when i returned i was greeted by the full moon over the front garden.


an orangish blue moon (no filter used, no color added)

tonite`s musicians/singer/songwriters at Senri-chuo "PAL Street live"

flowers/ohana and music/ongaku

it is almost exactly one week since i left my little home in the south bay. it hasn`t been an easy week here in Minoo but then again being a part of Family is not always easy. i am glad i am here and i think i am helping. and the cherry blossoms are slowly starting to bloom . . . no sakura, no life.
here a few photos from my few hours away from home this afternoon. i walked down Sakura-dori and then over to hear some live music by Meg and Viv. it is the monthly "thank you" concert from Minoo FM 81.6 the two singers and keyboard player were very entertaining. i took the bus to Visola Market Place and will add a few photos from there tomorrow. time for bed. oyasumi.

not that you are broken

i was listening to this song on the way back from the gym today on the bus. and on my walk to the beach. recently i was reminded of the song, "yellow" while looking up at the beautiful icho (gingko) trees around Minoo. it was the first song i remembering from the band Coldpay about 10 years ago. i remember the music video was simple with lead singer Chris Martin walking by the beach in what looks to be winter. it was simple but memorable and has always been one of my favorites. so i was very happy to see most of their concert from earlier this year in Japan on youtube. there are not many bands i have a great desire to see "live" in such a venue but after seeing them on youtube with my headphones on (as it is just about midnite), i would love to see Coldplay" live one day. and of course, Oda Kazumasa and Kobukuro again. if you have some headphones, plug them into your computer and turn up the volume and listen to such songs as "yellow", "in my place", "viva la vida", "the scientist". here is "fix you".

ps. by the way Monk ended happily ever after. there is a good song at the end by Randy Newman, "when i am gone". remember when i almost got into some trouble at work because of Monk a couple of years ago. good times. goodbye Monk.

singing in the rain

well maybe not singing but sitting in the rain listening to singing. after an easy day at home i took the bus to Senri-chuo for some "street live" and then met Noriko for some delicious and hot ramen.

my bus to Senri-chuo . . . at 3:38pm before the rain


regular performer and emcee Sakamoto Keisuke as the "top batter" in today`s lineup of musicians.


Takuya


Akane

X + （えくすと）

QU-E

Tony and the Christmas trees

Odoriba Soul, omurice, ice dog, and fish sponges

can you guess what i did, heard, ate and shopped at today? if you guess Shinsaibashi and America Mura and Tokyu Hands, you are correct. and if you know why two of these things are connected to Kobukuro, you know why we went where we went. here are some images from this rainy sunday.

Odoriba Soul live at the Apple Store on Midosuji in Shinsaibashi. i really loved their sound. maybe i will put some of their video on my blog or on youtube when i have more time.

Kobuchi-kun probably sat against the wall between the two windows eating his omurice. the restuarant is called Hokkyokusei. on a sidenote, Noriko`s Mother ate here about 50 years ago. it has been opened since 1925.

my mushroom omurice. very delicious

Kobukuro came to this Ice Dog cafe in America Mura

the last bite of my ice dog. there is a photo of Kobuchi-kun and the owner of the cafe on the wall.

yes, that is a crystal Mercedes Benz

a very very crowded Shinsaibashi-suji

finally we found the fish sponges that Noriko`s Mother at Tokyu Hands. they had a rainbow of colors to choose from. Tokyu Hands is a very fun place to look around and shop but unfortunately we had to return home so Noriko could prepare dinner...o-nabe!

O-NABE!!!