My trivial thinking

Osaka Castle is one of the most famous castles in Japan. This was the site of Ishiyama-Hongan-ji Temple which was the toughest forces of resistance against Hideyoshi. After the overthrowing them, Toyotomi Hideyoshi ruled over the country and began to construct this castle in 1583, placed the headquarter of his administration here. Hideyoshi died in 1598. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu took over the rule in 1603. In the Summer Campaign of the Siege of Osaka, Yodogimi, the second wife of Hideyoshi, and the successor Hideyori suicided in here. Toyotomi family perished in 1615. Tokugawa Shogunate was functioned this castle as the core of the control of the western Japan and Osaka until 1868. In 1935, the castle was rebuilt. Now the Osaka Castle Park is the largest park and the most popular tourist spot in the city. I visited here yesterday. Due to the cherry blossom viewing, a lot of people, not only Japanese but also foreigne...

Senpukan is a historic, the oldest Western-style building in Osaka, and stands　facing O-kawa River. It used to  be a guest house for the Japanese Mint Bureau. The Meiji Emperor stayed here during his visit to Osaka in 1872. The building was constructed according to the Colonial Veranda style with the granite outer pillars, designed by Thomas Waters, an Irish architect. After three years renovation, Senpukan temporarily opens in public for only three days. When I arrived at a little past 10:00, many visitors have already been standing in line waiting for their turns. I had to wait for more than a hour.

They say, in Japan, that cherry blossoms, the sakura, is the symbol of the joyful moment and the transience, which is associated with Buddhistic influence. The flowers in full bloom come suddenly and fall soon. It is epitomized as " mono no aware ". Cherry blossoms also can be the symbol of sadness. Ichiyo Higuchi depicted the saddest scene with falling flowers in her first novella, 'Flowers at Dusk' . Flowers at Dusk (Yamizakura) by Ichiyo Higuchi, 1892. Ryonosuke is 22 years old and Chiyo is 16 years old. They grew up together as childhood friends. At dusk on the Day of the Martial Guardian in February, they go out to enjoy browsing at community events. Chiyo clings to Ryonosuke's arm as they stroll along. And then her girlfriends see them and tease, "You two certainly look friendly! What are you up to?" Since this happened, Chiyo has become aware of yearning for him. However, Ryonosuke hasn't noticed her love. Chiyo gets sick. She s...

The weather forecast said it was sunny and going to be hot, the temperature was going up to 18 degrees in the afternoon. I went to Tonboike Park alone in the morning yesterday. Kinkurohajiro / Tufted duck In the midst of the pond, I found tufted ducks. But they hadn't moved at all as if they were sleeping. Shirohara / Pale thrush This time, since there were many people in the center of the park, I went to the path on the hill around the park. Tsugumi / Dusky thrush I could see a pale thrush and a dusky thrush on the opening below a summerhouse. I found pale thrushes and dusky thrushes in the opening across the path too. I thought that dusky thrushes grew a little larger than the size of the last month. Yamagara / Varied tit I found a varied tit on a tree branch. I tried to take pictures of it, but it was too far for my cheap camera. Although there were many dusky thrushes and brown-eared bulbuls, it was hard for me to find other birds and tak...

As I grow older, I find myself thinking more often about the next world. I don’t feel I have many years left, and that makes me want to prepare myself—mentally and spiritually—for whatever comes after this life. Yet of course, no one truly knows what awaits us in Heaven. Mitch Albom, the author of this book, has written many deeply moving works. His most famous is Tuesdays with Morrie . The main character, Eddie, is an 83‑year‑old maintenance man at an amusement park. He believes his life has been meaningless, with nothing to be proud of. The story begins at the end of his life. As the author writes, “But all endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time.” On Eddie’s 83rd birthday, an accident occurs, and he dies while trying to save a lonely eight‑year‑old girl. In Heaven, Eddie meets five people, one after another. They are not necessarily family or close friends. Some are people he would rather forget, some he barely remembers, and some he never knew at all. Each o...

  Today, March 3rd, is Hina-matsuri , the Doll’s Festival. In Japan, we celebrate Hina-matsuri to pray for the health and happiness of girls. Families with daughters display a set of dolls dressed in the elegant court costumes of the Heian period. When my daughters were little, my father gave them a set of small porcelain dolls. My daughters are grown now, but even today my wife still displays the dolls every year for about two weeks leading up to Hina-matsuri .