Finally, it’s my “Part II” post  about my latest trip to Japan!

Here I’m talking about Tokyo Sky Tree Tower “東京スカイツリ”! In my earlier entries I’ve already posted something about Tokyo Sky Tree Tower and about its establishment & the overall construction, but this time it’s different! I’ve experienced seeing  Tokyo Sky Tree Tower in real! YES I DID!! It’s off the Sumida river. Sumida river has always meant something special to me. Back in 2007 I had the chance to see Sakura in full bloom off the Sumida river and it has left an exceptional memory for me. This year, when I knew that Tokyo Sky Tree Tower can be seen right off the Sumida river, I’ve decided to see it right from the same spot where I’ve walked by back in 2007. I did, and it was just a amazing view of the Tower! I was totally speechless!! All what I did was taking pictures and staring at its beauty!

P.S.: For me, Tokyo Tower will always be the only national Tower of Japan.

I’ve stayed in Japan for 17 days visiting some of the major cities in Honshu (Tokyo, Shizuoka, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe and Awaji Island). It was my first time visiting Nagoya, Kobe and Awaji Island. Shinkansen was really helpful in making me reaching these cities conveniently. I rode the Shinkansen: Tokyo <–> Shizuoka; Shin-Yokohama  –> Nagoya; Nagoya –> Osaka. Kobe and Awaji Island were visited by car. InshaAllah I’ll update with more posts and pictures about my trip but I’ve decided not to make it very personal though. Therefore, I’ll try to summarize the main activities/events that I did there, ja ne!

          This is my first entry being posted from Japan! Not a first visit though. I’m in TOKYO now, my plan is to discover Japan beyond what’s mentioned on travel guidebooks/websites. I shall add new posts in the future insha’Allah about this trip, stay tuned!

“ The Moomins (Swedish: Mumintroll, Finnish: Muumi) are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white and roundish, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses. The carefree and adventurous family live in their house in Moominvalley, in the forests of Finland, though in the past their temporary residences have included a lighthouse and a theatre. They have many adventures along with their various friends. In all, nine books were released in the series, with five picture books and a comic strip being released between 1945 and 1993.” (www.wikipedia.com. June, ’11)

I’ve first watched the Arabic dubbed Japanese Anime version of  ”Moomin - وادي الأمان” when I was around 13 years old. At that time, I didn’t know that the Anime was originally based on a Swedish-Finnish graphical novel, but for some reason I’ve felt the difference between Moomin anime and the other Japanese anime story plots. Being simple and unique is what made the Moomin Comic/Anime to be so special!

Moomin has been made into many TV series and films but my favorites are the Japanese anime sequels (Two different casts Arabic dub) that were made in the early 90s.

Recently I’ve started reading the complete comic strip of Moomin by the Finnish novelist Tove Jansson. Simply, it’s a piece of art!

Now I’m planning on watching the Arabic dubbed anime film of  ”Moomin: Comet in Moominland” and also playing the Nintendo DS Game!

“On October 1, 2003, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL) and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) were merged into one independent administrative institution to be able to perform all their activities in the aerospace field as one organization, from basic research and development to utilization. The independent administrative institution is the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).” (www.jaxa.jp, 2011)

I have an interest in Aerospace and Astronomy, yet far from being an Astronomer. I’ve first knew about JAXA from press in 2010 with their Venus Climate Orbiter “AKATSUKI”, PLANET-C. I’m expecting good studies and researches from JAXA in the near future in the field of Aerospace, as it did in the past.

For further info and updates, please visit JAXA official webpage.

“Ohayocon is a convention focusing on Japanese pop culture, including popular anime and manga fandom. It is traditionally held during the month of January in Columbus, Ohio. Ohayocon was first held in 2001 in Cleveland, Ohio, moving to Columbus in 2003. Ohayocon derives its name from the similarity in pronunciation between “Ohio”, where the con is held, and Ohayo (おはよう, Ohayou), which is Japanese for “Good morning”. With its continued growth, Ohayocon has become the largest winter anime convention in North America.” (Wikipedia, 2011).

I know this is an outdated post, but I’m still interested in blogging this new experience of mine! Back in January 28-30 this year, I FINALLY had the chance to attend a true and real Anime Convention. It was held at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. When I’ve first registered for this convention, I didn’t expect a lot but to be honest, the convention exceeded my expectations! The panels were running all day long, many different things to do there. It’s not only Anime, besides Anime (recent & old school Anime), there were video games panels, Manga panels, Voice actors/actresses panels, board games panels, cosplay contests, Japanese movies panels, etc.! I was spinning around like a crazy trying not to miss any of the good panels. The place was well-organized, comfortable and the facilities were just perfect. Attendees were so much fun so going alone wasn’t an issue at all. I’ve created an album of the cosplayers that I liked the most. I didn’t cosplay though but it was really fun looking around at the professional cosplayers there. The bazaar was just a place to burn money, I was lucky enough to find the original Blue Seed complete dvds boxset. I guess no one there, especially from the younger generation, knew how precious this boxset is!

“The Seto-Ohashi Bridge, is a series of double deck bridges connecting Okayama and Kagawa prefectures in Japan across a series of five small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Built over the period 1978–1988, it is one of the three routes of the Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Project connecting Honshū and Shikoku islands. At 13.1 km long, it ranks as the world’s longest two-tiered bridge system.
Crossing the bridge takes about 20 minutes by car or train. The ferry crossing before the bridge was built took about an hour. The non-discounted toll from Kojima, Kurashiki (Okayama Prefecture on the Honshū side) to Sakaide (Kagawa Prefecture on the Shikoku side) is ¥3,500, and vice-versa.” (Wikipedia)

Japan has many good bridges like the Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba in Tokyo and the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge connecting Kobe to Awaki Island, besides many other famous bridges around Japan. However, since Seto Bridge is the longest two-tiered bridge, it’s the most joyful one to drive on. I’ve never drove on it or been to that region before but imagining driving for 20 min over a suspended bridge passing through a number of small islands is awesome! Moreover, I’ve always wanted to visit Shikoku island, taking the Seto Bridge from Honshu would make the road trip even more fun.

“Domu-kun (نصف بطل) is an anime series based on a manga by Shotaro Ishinomori, which follows the adventures of Dome Shinjo, a 10 years old boy who is son of a deceased legendary player of the Yomiuri Giants. From his father he inherited the love for baseball and his great abilities for such sport, although his mother and his older sister try to avoid that he practices it. In fact, his father, before dying, had time to teach him a magical shoot. Dome, after his mother gave him the glove his father used, he makes that shot in a training session of the Giants and is contracted immediately. With the support of the veteran players of the team, this young player will, from this very moment, make the Giants become unbeatable at home and none of the main batters of the Japanese professional league manages to end with his magical shot. Although that does not apply to the games played away, as Dome is just allowed to play at home, in the Tokyo Dome in which his father was consacrated (and the place by which he did chose such name for his son). When the veteran captain of the Dragons manages to bat his shot, it seems that the young boy is finally and definitely defeated, but then he invents another magical shot. New rivals, but also friends (such as Melody Norman, an American girl who disguises herself as a boy because women can’t play baseball), will appear in scene, until the arrival of the mysterious Don Carlos, a Spanish ex-bullfighter who plays for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and had an old rivalry with his father.”  – Wikipedia

The first time I’ve watched this anime was in early-mid 90s. Ever since I’ve learned and liked baseball but unfortunately baseball is not a popular game here in Kuwait. In other words, no one plays it! I had to buy bats, balls and gloves from Europe. Fortunately, a friend of mine and my younger brother were also interested in playing the game. The way we played it was more like a practice rather than an actual game! Had fun though. The other story that’s associated with (نصف بطل) is the laserball, a ball that captures the speed that the ball was thrown at. In one of the episodes Domu’s friend buys him a laserball as a gift and it was my first time to hear/know about sucha ball. First I was like this laserball doesn’t exist in reality, but later and for some reason I had a doubt hope that it does exist and I must at least search for it. Searched in London and Japan, but couldn’t find it! Many years later, I’ve found the ball being sold in KUWAIT!!!!!

If you have watched the anime and would like to know my team, I’m Hanshin Tigers, Ganbare Taigasu~

            “Yonezawa (米沢市, Yonezawa-shi) is a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 91,704 and the population density of 167 persons per square kilometer. The total area is 548.74 km².” (Wikipedia, September ’10).

I’ve first knew about Yonezawa from NHK channel. First, I wasn’t very interested to know more about it and was about to change the channel, but not when I’ve found that Yonezawa is where the Uesugi Samurai Clan used to live! From which, the famous Samurai soldier (Uesugi Kenshin) is. For this reason, an annual Samurai festival “Matsuri” is held in Yonezawa. I wish if I can make it someday at the Matsuri by a Shinkansen!!!

I’ll start posting, or in other words, sharing some random pictures of Japan. Those that I find them to be beautiful and special. I will limit my comments so you find the beauties in those pictures your self and with your own eyes! Enjoy~

Here, in this pitcutre, I liked the harmony between nature and concrete! The orange horizon has made the picture even more special. (Yokohama, Japan)