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 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.
“Mount Bizan (眉山, Bizan) is a mountain in Tokushima. Its name is formed of the kanji for eyebrow, and it is said to have earned this name because the mountain looks like an eyebrow from all views. Known as a symbol of Tokushima City, the name Mount Bizan appears in many school songs in the city district, such as the Tokushima Prefectural Jonan High School, Tokushima Municipal High School and many more. Furthermore, in 2007 Mount Bizan became widely known as the setting for a national movie of the same name, based on a book by Sada Masashi.”(Wikipedia, accessed July 9, ’10).
Althought I’ve never been to this mountain, in Japan I’ve only been to Mt. Fuji which I didn’t post/talk about in my blog as it’s VERY famous and I don’t have to re-define/discuss a common and a “VERY BEAUTIFUL&STUNNING” thing again… Anyway, back to Mt. Bizan, when I’ve first knew/read/watched/heard about it was on NHK. I was like “Oh no anoher Mountain to visit wow, I’ll add it to my must see list”, I really liked the flat peak , the “eyebrow”!
Before, I thought the most interesting attractions in Japan are most probably only in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama and Nagoya, that’s it. However, by time and the more I read about Japan I’ve found that attractions/beauty are scattered all along Japan islands not only in Honshu!, btw mt.bizan is in Shikoku… I wonder how would it feel to sail on a boat next to this mountain being surrounded by nature and silence~?!
“Tetsujin 28-gō, is a 1956 manga written and illustrated by Mitsuteru Yokoyama, who also created Giant Robo. The series centred on the adventures of a young boy named Shotaro Kaneda, who controlled a giant robot named Tetsujin 28, built by his late father. The manga was later adapted into four anime TV series, the first in 1963. It was the first Japanese series to feature a giant robot. The 1963 series was later released in America as Gigantor. A live action motion picture with heavy use of computer generated graphics was produced in Japan in 2005.” (Wikipedia, accessed March ’10)
Then there is the 1980 and 1992 Tv anime serieses. My favorite, and the favorite of most of the arab fans, is the 1980′s (Shin Tetsujin 28-gō) as it was dubbed into arabic. The dub was really good performed by mostly lebanese voice actors/actresses خالد السيد from جونكر and وفاء طربيه from رانزي المدهشة, and many others. Their arabic pronounciation is perfect besides it’s relevant to the plot and storyline unlike other recent dubs that I don’t want to btother in bringing it up here for now…Tetsujin the 80′s Tv series is my age, I’ve watched it in 80′s and I’m watching it again now, liked neither the 60′s nor the 00′s versions of it, 70s-80s are always my favourite in anime.
Now there is a 1:1 (18 m) Tetsujin 28-gō statue in Kobe, where Mitsuteru Yokoyama was born. Unfortunately, it’s from the 50′s manga/60′s anime, not the 80′s shin Tetsujin 28-gō, but it’s still good. Hope to see Astroganga (アストロガンガー جونكر) and (الثور الأسود) somewhere in Honshū soon!
Yesterday while watching NHK, I had the chance to watch a documentary program about Morioka City in Japan. Morioka is the capital city of Iwate perfecture in Japan. It’s located on the north-east side of Honshu. Morioka has an estimated population of 300,740. The total area is 489.15 km2. Three rivers flow over Morioka, the Kitakami, the Shizukuishi and the Nakatsu. Although Morioka is a small city but it has 5 stars hotels and restaurants, besides the museums and shops.
Morioka can be reached in a 3 hours ride on the Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo. Sakura trees usually bloom in Morioka by late April, so I guess it’s the best time to visit Morioka. It has been already added to my to do list hehehe! Inshallah I’m planning to visit Nagoya in late March, Sendai and Morioka in late April and Hokkiado in May to chase the flow of Sakura!
