Spring School

March 28, 2007

We had spring school at work which followed the end of semester. Spring school is a separate from our regular preschool schedule, but many of our preschoolers attend. This year spring school, only 2 weeks long was held at the new school, my home in Kaminoge school. It was a bit bizarre waking up and being at work watching the staff and students arrive at my doorsteps.

The highpoint of spring school was the Easter bonnet parade and teachers decided to parade around the neigbourhood so that we announce the opening of the new Kaminoge school. We donned our paper bonnets and paraded to the park where we took pictures and played.

Cha Cha - R.I.P.

I learned today that Cha Cha passed away on the afternoon of March 24, 2007. It is a sad day indeed. Cha Cha is the last of beloved hounds to me and her passing marks an end that started off with Tomalaka's Mija, followed by Tomalaka's 'Pokipah Sandstorm' Mojo, followed by Rambo and now Cha Cha.
She, like all the above mentioned hounds, had a remarkable existence. She was born in the rurals of Quebec's Eastern Township, on the outskirts of Magog. She enjoyed many happy years living in the countryside and easily made the transition to an urban hound living in Vancouver city during her elder years. A great protector and companion to my mother, she will be sadly missed by many who knew and loved her.

I hope that her death is connected to the posionous pet food that abounds. I do not know the facts. She lived with cancer or rather battled with cancer. But the last I heard, she was doing well and might live for several years more to come.

Her death is just another reminder of the impermanence of life and another call to make each day count. Our days are numbered and we all too shall pass. I will reexamine what I have done recently to making this world a better place to live in and how I have cared and expressed compassion for other sentient beings.

Vancouver spring 2006

March 18, 2007

My colleague at Z corporation is an Englishman trapped in Japan by marriage and spends his time getting arrested by police for taking photos. He's a hoot. He took a photo of a yabamba girl that I wanted to share. Very punk rock, but he says there is no philosophy at work with these girls. No fav. bands or punk rock ideology. I would like to find out for myself.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uchujin/416917675/

Girl's Day

Dolls lined out for Girl's Day at this shrine

It happened to be girl’s day and since it was my day off and I had to return some CD’s to the library, I set off to Suitengumae. I originally visited this area to see a Nagauta performance with the women musicians from Tuon. I really like this area.

Huge line for the taiyaki as seen in the reflection of this shop's window

It has a distinct Japanese feel to it which Setagaya lacks. I wanted to return and visit the shamisen shop and see if any second hand shamisens had arrived. I had no luck, but I did have a brief chat and ask for permission to take a photo of the master craftsman. Next door to the shamisen shop is a basket shop where the craftsman sits for all to see while he works upon his trade. The taiyaki shop across the street has a huge line in front of it once again. I would love to try the taiyaki, but with such a huge line, I am really surprised that people will wait so patiently. I am not that patient.

I make a visit to Suitengumae Shrine. It has a bit time fertility association and people go to pray for if they are hoping to have children. Many people go there with their young children for blessings as well. It is a busy day and it is quite a famous temple. They have a wall full of old pictures of the Shrine and I took a few, but the reflection overshadows the pic.

I make my way around the neighbourhood and come across some funny notes on the map, like “head of a famous Buddhist saint statue is here”. I can’t resist and go off looking for this famous head. I come across a small shrine tucked away from the street. It looks intriguing. I think this is where the head is supposed to be, but like so many other famous artifacts, it is probably buried away somewhere safe from prying eyes.

There are many quaint little shops selling all kinds of foods and teas with plenty of samples. People seem quite friendly here, for Tokyo. I love the way people place plants all around them to create greenery. Even if there is a lack of space and greenery, people adapt and make the best of the concrete jungle.