Category: Uncategorized

Now is a good time to see the autumn colors of summer cypress (Bassia scoparia or Kochia scoparia) plants in Oishi Park in the town of Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Summer cypress, Oishi Park, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/11/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassia_scoparia; https://www.fujioishihanaterasu.com/en/

Cosmos flowers, Oishi Park, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/11/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_(plant)

Woolly lavender (Lavandula lanata), Oishi Park, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/11/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavandula_lanata

Black bent (Agrostis gigantea), Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/11/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrostis_gigantea

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasive_species

Also, please refer to the article on August 19, 2025: Notorious Invasive Alien Plant Species in Yamanashi: https://yamanashietsuo.net/notorious-plant-invasive-alien-species-in-yamanashi/

Red spider lily (Lycoris radiata), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycoris_radiata

Red morning glory (Ipomoea coccinea), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_coccinea

Littlebell (Ipomoea triloba), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_triloba

Cobbler’s pegs (Bidens pilosa var. pilosa), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://www.nies.go.jp/biodiversity/invasive/DB/detail/80460e.html; https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/cobblers-pegs

Common evening-primrose (Oenothera biennis), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenothera_biennis

Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erigeron_strigosus

Yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setaria_pumila

Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_grass

Japanese hop (Humulus japonicus), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humulus_japonicus

Kudzu vine (Pueraria montana var. lobata), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueraria_montana_var._lobata

Japanese jacinth (Barnardia japonica), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnardia_japonica

Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipomoea_nil

Common eveningprimrose (Oenothera biennis), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/08/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenothera_biennis

The port of Shimizu is located in Shimizu-ward in the city of Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The port has several wharves and it is a busy and important one in Japan. It is known for its international trade, commercial fishing, and recent surge in luxury cruise ship arrivals.

https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/cruise/detail/025/index.html; https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6354.html; https://www.portofshimizu-intl.com/

A research ship and a cruise ship, Shimizu Port, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/06/2025

The Aokigahara Forest is located alongside the western side of Lake Sai, one of the Fuji five lakes in the town of Kawaguchiko in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.  It is situated at the northwestern base of Mount Fuji and is known for its dense trees and unique landscape formed over volcanic lava rock.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aokigahara; https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1335/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_Five_Lakes

Trees and plants growing on the thatched roof of an old house, Aokigahara Forest, Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi, 10/04/2025

The Miho Peninsula is a small peninsula that faces Suruga Bay located in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The location is well-known for its scenic Miho no Matsubara pine grove.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miho_no_Matsubara; https://miho-no-matsubara.jp/lang/en/about/

Suruga Bay, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/03/2025

Glory bush (Pleroma urvilleanum), Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/03/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleroma_urvilleanum

Sulfur cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus), Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/03/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_sulphureus

Bark of a Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) tree, Shimizu-ward, Shizuoka-city, Shizuoka, 10/03/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_thunbergii

You can pick and taste grapes (Vitis vinifera) here in Misaka Farm Grape House. There are several more farms like this in the Misaka area in the city of Fuefuki in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Why don’t you enjoy the taste of autumn with grapes and have fun?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitis_vinifera; https://misakanoen.co.jp/?srsltid=AfmBOoqK0m-A5u4bpDtMHIp_93ZdnQ3EWZ4WsScHYULF53n7XjtVDr4k#

Grapes in Misaka Farm Grape House, Misaka, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 9/28/2025

FYI

https://nihonmono.jp/en/article/30716/; https://nihonmono.jp/en/article/31402/; https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jsbbs/66/1/66_34/_html/-char/ja; https://www.fao.org/4/x6897e/x6897e07.htm; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shine_Muscat; (In Japanese) https://dr-tomio.com/

Cosmos bipinnatus, commonly called the garden cosmos, is native to Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_bipinnatus; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_(plant)

The section of National Route 254 in the Uchiyama area in the city of Saku, Nagano Prefecture is known as “Cosmos Road.” Approximately 40,000 cosmos flowers are planted along the roadside that bloom from early September each year. These cosmos flowers create a beautiful flower belt with pink, deep pink, and white varieties along the road, especially in mid-September when they are in full bloom. The flower belt stretches for approximately 9 km and creates a vibrant display that attracts visitors. The flowers were first planted by the members of Uchiyama senior citizens’ club in 1972; today, the scenic road is maintained by local residents.  https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/spot/02301-14421713/; (In Japanese) https://www.sakukankou.jp/sightseeing/kosumosu-kaidou/#

Cosmos flowers, Uchiyama, Saku, Nagano, 9/21/2025

Pomegranate (Punica granatum), Uchiyama, Saku, Nagano, 9/21/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate

Palm ruffle lichen (Parmotrema tinctorum), Uchiyama, Saku, Nagano, 9/21/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmotrema_tinctorum; (Lichins in Chiba Prefecture) https://www.chiba-muse.or.jp/NATURAL/special/chii_boso/genus/parmotrema.html

Mount Yogai or Yogaiyama is located in the Sekisuiji district in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It is a low mountain with the elevation of 770 meters (2,530 ft). The Takeda clan built a fortress in the mountain to barricade themselves in an emergency.

https://yamanashi–hiking100-jp.translate.goog/course/detail/89?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dgaiyama_Castle; https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/440; (In Japanese) https://www.rinya.maff.go.jp/kanto/yamanasi/invitation/pdf/map.pdf

Looking the Kofu Basin and the trail to Mount Yogai, Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

Mount Yogai and trail signs, Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

Sacred rock and statues of Takeda Fudoson (Achala Vidyaraja) and Kannon (Avalokiteśvara) and a shrine, Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

White Tip Spikemoss (Selaginella tamariscina), Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selaginella_tamariscina

Marasmius maximus Hongo, Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

(In Japanese) https://mikawanoyasou.org/kinoko/oohouraitake.htm; https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%AA%E3%82%AA%E3%83%9B%E3%82%A6%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BF%E3%82%B1

Birch polypore (Fomitopsis betulina), Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomitopsis_betulina; https://ncslg.cals.ncsu.edu/piptoporous-betulinus-bull-fr-karst/; https://www.jataff.or.jp/kinoko/0306/19.htm

Stinking dapperling (Lepiota cristata), Sekisuiji, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/22/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lepiota_cristata; https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/58694-Lepiota-cristata

Hirasawa Pass, Mount Ohmori, and Mount Meshimori (or IImori) are located in the village of Minamimaki, Minamisaku, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Unfortunately, it was foggy and clouded and the visibility was poor.

Hirasawa Pass, Japan Drainage Divide, Toward to the left The Sea of Japan and toward to the right the Pacific Ocean

Mount Ohmori (1650 meters), Minamimaki Village, Minamisaku, Nagano, 9/20/2025

Mount Meshimori (or IImori, 1643 meters), Minamimaki Village, Minamisaku, Nagano, 9/20/2025

Shishiiwa (Lion Rock), Minamimaki Village, Minamisaku, Nagano, 9/20/2025

Wild Japanese pear, Minamimaki Village, Minamisaku, Nagano, 9/20/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrus_pyrifolia

Scabiosa japonica var.alpina, Minamimaki Village, Minamisaku, Nagano, 9/20/2025

https://mikawanoyasou.org/data/matumusisou.htm; https://hoohouse.co.uk/plants/scabiosa-japonica-var.-alpina/

Japanese thistle, Minamimaki Village, Minamisaku, Nagano, 9/20/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirsium_japonicum

Hydrogen can be used as a next-generation energy source because it is a clean fuel, emitting only water during use, and can contribute to a carbon-free society by replacing fossil fuels in various applications, including power generation, heavy-duty transport, and other industries. Hydrogen acts as an energy carrier, storing and transporting energy produced from domestic renewable resources like solar and wind, thereby improving energy security and self-sufficiency.  Therefore, hydrogen is referred to as a “green” energy source.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-024-04892-z; https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/12/why-hydrogen-is-the-fuel-of-the-sustainable-future/

The government of Yamanashi Prefecture has a plan to build a hydrogen energy society and become a global leader in green hydrogen and fuel cell technology.  The technology focuses on the Yamanashi Model Power-to-Gas (P2G) System and establishes a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Valley to foster industry-academia-government collaboration.  The strategy involves using solar power to produce hydrogen and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, developing a regional hydrogen value chain, and promoting research and development, human resource development, and business expansion both domestically and internationally.

Yamanashi Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Industry Support Desk Website; https://www.yiso.or.jp/yhfc/en/index.html#gsc.tab=0; Yamanashi Prefecture and JERA Promote Regional Hydrogen Utilization for a Carbon-Free Future!: https://www.jera.co.jp/en/action/discover/030; Suntory Announces “Suntory Green Hydrogen Vision”: https://www.suntory.com/news/article/14825E.html 

UCC UESHIMA COFFEE CO., LTD started developing hydrogen roasting in 2022. UCC Hydrogen-Roasted Coffee is a new product using a hydrogen-powered roaster for a carbon-neutral process, offering improved flavor complexity due to precise temperature control and unique flavor expression. Developed with the goal of decarbonizing coffee production, the technology enables the use of hydrogen as a clean energy source, potentially impacting the taste and sustainability of coffee. The company has invested in large-scale equipment and a hybrid roaster that can use both hydrogen and conventional fuels to gradually increase the hydrogen ratio, ensuring a stable transition to this green technology.

https://www.ucc.co.jp/eng/; https://www.ucc.co.jp/dist/downloads/ucc-sustainability-en.pdf; https://www.nedo.go.jp/content/100956603.pdf; https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15632425