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Sunday, November 25, 2012

New Account Follows.



Thanks for visiting.
My“Ray's Rabbit Hutch” account reached the limit capacity.
I've started a new account “Ray's Rabbit Hutch 2”
Please visit following URL.

http://rays-rabbit-hutch-2.blogspot.jp/

容量が上限に達しましたので、上記のサイトに移行します。




Sunday, November 18, 2012

Anthurium, Light and Shadow

I bought a pot of anthurium about one month ago.
It has been showing beautiful flowers since then. I like seeing it at the time of sunset.
Isn't is beautiful?


Sunday, November 11, 2012

Utsunomiya Castle Park / Castle Ruins Park

Leaves are turning red or yellow at Utsunomiya Castle Park.
I went to the park to take some snapshots today.
No doubt, we are in the middle of autumn season.


Monday, November 05, 2012

What Does the Number 753 Stand for in Japan?

The number 753, seven five three, has a special meaning in Japan.

Three and seven year-old girls and three and five year-old boys get a celebration on the nearest weekend around November 15.
We call the day 753, Shichi-Go-San in Japanese.

Children were dressed up in their best clothes and held a ceremony of purification at a local shrine.


Lion dance known as Shishi-Mai in Japanese is performed at the Futarasan shirne.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Kikusui-sai Autumn Festival


Kikusui-sai autumn festival was held in the city center last Saturday and Sunday.

I took these pictures on Saturday.

They must have had a traditional Japanese Yabusame or a horseback mounted archery on Sunday.

Unfortunately, I did not have time to see them yesterday.



Day by day, it becomes cooler in Utsunomiya.

Rina, my younger daughter, is preparing for her college exams which are scheduled to be held in coming February.

She still has more three to four months. In another words, we have only several months to live together.

Definitely, she'll leave us and go to Tokyo for her college.
To think about it makes me more cooler.


Sunday, October 21, 2012

Far East Kitchen



The other day, I went to a cafe 'Far East Kitchen' with my wife.
It took about fifteen minutes from home on foot.



 I ordered an omurice or a rice omelet with curry sauce.

The food, ketchup-seasoned fried rice wrapped in a thin sheet of fried egg,  is very famous in Japan.






My wife  ordered a chestnut spaghetti and  sweets.
Each food looked nice, so was the taste.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Cosmos Flower Field


 I went to a cosmos flower field in Kinu Green Park to take pictures yesterday.

Hot summer days have gone behind Utsunomiya city now.
It was a very pleasant Saturday afternoon.

Monday, October 08, 2012

World Cup Soccer Asian Preliminary League: Japan vs. Iraq

   
Nearby shopping mall provided a public viewing area of the soccer match with a big screen  last month. 
They also prepared beer stands and invited light meal vendors. 

I went to the viewing space expecting that there would be lots of people drinking, shouting, yelling at the screen. 

But, actually not many people gathering there. I watched the screen for about an hour then walked back home alone. 

On my way back home, I took a look at a screen in a pub where I used to go for chats with friends several years ago. It was also not crowded at all. 



Monday, October 01, 2012

Hibiscus Flowers Are Blooming at Home.



I bought a small hibiscus tree last year.
Even all flowers and leaves had gone away in winter, the tree showed us big flowers this summer again.

To my regret, it bloomed a bit fewer flowers this year than the last.

It brightens not only our living room but also whole our family and visitors.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

NIKKO COFFEE





‘NIKKO COFFEE’ is the name of a café in neighboring city Nikko, about 45 minute-drive from home.

The mountains west of the city are part of Nikko National Park.

The area has some of the country's most spectacular waterfalls, scenic trails and a beautiful lake.



It’s said that the owner who is also the owner of Kyo-Cha-An in Kanuma city renovated a 100-year-old Taisho era house into the modern café spending three years.

My wife and I had lunch and coffee at the café/cafe.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Reve Continuer

 My wife’s friend Ogiwara-san recently opened a restaurant called “Reve Continuer” in the suburb of Utsunomiya city. We were invited to the restaurant the other day.


 She is practicing classical ballet as my wife does in the same ballet class together.

Before opening the restaurant, Ogiwara-san gave us sample foods that she would serve there at every occasion and we gave her frank comments.


 Since she has been learning cooking in Tokyo for years, tastes of dishes were wonderful even she opened it a few weeks ago.

We enjoyed about an hour of small talk and nice meals in a cozy atmosphere.