EXPERIENCE YAMANASHI AND MORE _ EXPLORE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Yoroi, Japanese Armor, possessed by the town of Ichikawamisato, Yamanashi Prefecture, has been on display in the Furusato Hall in Kabuki-Bunka Park, Ichikawamisato, Yamanashi, since October 1, 2024 (https://www.town.ichikawamisato.yamanashi.jp/50sightsee/50guide/kabukibunkakouen.html).

About Japanese armor, please refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_armour; https://www.japanesearmorsociety.com/.

Views from the top of Furusato Hall, Kabuki-Bunka Park, Ichikawamisato-town, Yamanashi, 10/13/2024

It was a fine October day in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture. We visited Maizuru Castle Park where the ruins of Kofu Castle are located. The Park was opened to the public in 1962 and designated as a Cultural Asset of Yamanashi (Kofu Castle Ruins, Historical Site) in 1968 (Leaflet of Maizurujo Park, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maizuru_Castle_Park). Also, please read the article, Kofu Castle Ruins, on February 19, 2024.

Inari Turret Tower (reconstruction), Kofu Castle, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/12/2024

Kurogane Gate (reconstruction), Kofu Castle, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/12/2024

A Mount Fuji diorama showing a trail route to the top of the mountain and a town located at the foot of the mountain is displayed in the Oshi Town Rest House Information Center. A mannequin wearing attire for Fujiko (Mount Fuji worshipers) climbers is also on display.

https://fujiyoshida.net/spot/56

Oshi Town Rest House Information Center, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 10/05/2024

Also, please refer to the article, Oshi Houses, on May 21, 2024.

It was another hot day in the city of Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture. The temperature exceeded 30℃. An unusual autumn heat wave seems continue for a while. A cotton rosemallow (Hibiscus mutabilis) plant was blooming in Maple Mountain Garden in Sumpu Castle Park.

Maple Mountain Garden, Sumpu Castle Park, Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 10/02/2024

Amaranthus seeds are known for their nutritional value, as they are a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, panthothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate, and several dietary minerals (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth). In pre-Hispanic times, amaranth was cultivated by the Aztec and their tributary communities in a quantity similar to maize and thought to have represented up to 80% of their energy consumption before the Spanish conquest (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth_grain).

There are also colorful Amaranthus species and grown as ornamental purposes (https://stock.adobe.com/jp/search?k=%22amaranth+plant%22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranthus_hypochondriacus; https://www.echocommunity.org/ja/resources/bdaae15f-c558-4170-a4e0-0eb156a7370f; https://www.growveg.com/plants/us-and-canada/how-to-grow-amaranth-ornamental/).

Globe amaranth ‘Fireworks’ (Gomphrena globosa ‘Fireworks’ ) is one of the colorful Amaranthus species and planted as garden and roadside plants (https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/gomphrena-globosa-fireworks/common-name/globe-amaranth-fireworks/; https://www.shutterstock.com/search/globe-amaranth-flowers?page=9).

Globe amaranth ‘Fireworks’ flowers planted along a street, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 9/25, 2024

The garden cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is a typical autumn plant, grown here and there (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos_bipinnatus).

Cosmos flowers, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 9/25, 2024

Maturing buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and rice (Oryza sativa) plants in the fields in the city of Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture. Buckwheat seeds are ground into buckwheat flour and made into soba noodles. Soba noodles are made primarily from buckwheat flour, with a small amount of wheat flour mixed in. In Europe, buckwheat flour is usually used to make pancakes and crepes. Rice is a cereal grain and in its domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world’s population, particularly in Asia and Africa.(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckwheat; https://oldeuropean-restaurant.com/what-is-buckwheat-and-why-is-it-used-to-make-pancakes/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oryza_sativa; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice).

Buckwheat Fields, Nagasaka, Yamanashi, 9/25/2024

Rice Fields, Nagasaka, Yamanashi, 9/25/2024

Insect Sounds, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/23/2024

It was another crazy hot day. The highest temperature in Shinjuku, Tokyo was exceeded 35℃. Yet, I was in in Shinjuku and visited at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Some plants in the greenhouse and a pond of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (https://fng.or.jp/shinjuku/en/; https://www.env.go.jp/garden/shinjukugyoen/english/index.html).

Flame violet (Episcia cupreata), Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 9/18/2024

Elkhorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum), Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 9/18/2024

Water canna (Thalia dealbata), Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 9/18/2024 

Godzilla head in Shinjuku Toho Building (https://shinjuku-toho-bldg.toho.co.jp/#; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinjuku_Toho_Building).

Godzilla Head, 8th Floor, Shinjuku Toho Bldg, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 9/18/2024

Godzilla Head-Manhole Covers, Shinjuku Toho Bldg, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 9/18/2024

A karaoke building and Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 9/18/2024

Shinjuku West-exit Omoide Yokocho alley, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 9/18/2024

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

FYI: https://www.gotokyo.org/en/index.html

A migratory locust (Locusta migratoria)♀, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/16/2024

Birds in the Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 9/16/2024