Japanese summer green VII

 

White lilies in the forest - imagine their perfume floating in the warm summer air!

Japanese summer green VI

Delicious green asparagus, just pure, with a bit of fleur de sel ...mmmmmh!

Japanese summer green V

Moss-covered roof of historical watermill (Michinoku Folklore Village)

Japanese summer green IV

Japanese summer green III

Japanese maple tree somewhere in Kitakami.

Japanese summer green II

2 meter high tobacco plants, at the Kitakami Michinoku Folklore Village.

Japanese summer green I

Rice paddy inside the Michinoku Folklore Village.

What a feast!

That's how the table looked like when we where invited recently by friends in Kitakami. We managed to finish almost everything. But I have to admit that we where ten persons altogether.

Rainy day in Iwate

... in the Kitakami Poetry Park, near the Japanese modern poetry and literature museum.

All-time family favorite food: Okonomiyaki!

... at the Dotonbori-Restaurant in Kitakami (near the Loc Town Shopping Center). It's all about preparing it yourself!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So yummy!
(although it has nothing in common with the esthetical principles and rules practised with other japanese dishes)

Simple, healthy and delicious

Japanese breakfast at our friend's house.

Summer in the Tohoku forests

The White Lily, Kitakami's city flower -  symbolizing the growth of thecity with its clean beauty and strong life force. This one is growing in the Michinoku Folklore Village . They are now everywhere in the forests, filling the air with their sweet, almost heavy perfume.

Four years ago ...

... two girls enjoying spring at the beach of Rikuzentakata.

First spring days in the Mountains of Northern Japan

Spring camellia

... in spring 2006, at the Sekaino Tsubakikan Goishi , near the tsunami-striken Iwate coast - has anybody an idea how things are looking there?

Beach still life in a little bay near Kaminari-iwa, Goishi-kaigan, Iwate

Rocks, sea and trees near Rikuzentakata

Matsushima Bay, March 2007

Jodogahama beach, Myako, 2005

Peaceful ocean near Rikuzentakata, 2008

I will continue to post pictures of the coast of Iwate for some time, taken during the years we lived in the region, to express my deep grief about what happened, and my hope that Japan will keep its courage.

Ofunato, 2006

Rikuzentakata, at the beach (2008)

Photo taken from Rikuzentakata beach, 2008.

Japan needs help: Below are organizations that are working on relief and recovery in the region, closely cooperating with japanese organizations:

• Red Cross in Germany: www.drk.de
• www.worldvision.de
• www.savethechildren.de
• You can donate $10 via your cell-phone bill by texting "REDCROSS" to 90999 from the States.
• Google US has an English site for donating to Japanese Red Cross Society.
• Yahoo! US has links to organizations that can help in Japan, including the American Red Cross.
• Red Cross in England: British Red Cross
• via the website of Open Home Project you can offer private accomodation in the World for people living in Japan during a time of uncertainty.

Shrine near Rikuzentakata, April 2006

Ofunato, 2006

Figurines in a shrine near Rikuzentakata, Iwate (photo taken April 2006)

Spring - well merited.

Old chestnut tree.

Alienlike

Caterpillar, observed october at the Iwate coast.

Kitakami countryside

Other style

Waiting for the show to begin.

During the summit of environment in Kitakami.

Fisherman in Rikuzentakata

After the fight

... with only three legs left (normally, spiders have eight). But bravely waiting for the next prey (who might take the remaining legs).

Ripening rice

... and its wonderful golden-green color all over the landscape.

See here how it will be harvested.

More new houses

I will never understand why they are built so very close to each other. And it's a pity that little by little, so many rice paddies in Kitakami are eaten up by those new housing areas.

Old mountains and new plastic houses

Close to Kitakami, Iwate.

Scary!

Meanwhile, rice harvest is almost over in Northern Japan, but on our recent trip it just had started, so in many rice paddies, we saw scarecrows - but modern ones like these are quite rare.

Red spider lilly (Lycoris radiata)

This flower, higanbana in japanese, in autumn is omnipresent in Japan.

Tatami room

... where we had the pleasure to stay during our September trip to Iwate.

Army of water striders

... in the Kitakami Poem Park.

Susuki in the morning mist

More susuki grass

Autumn grass (Miscanthus sinensis)

Back in Japan

... for a three weeks holiday - Kitakami, we're coming!

Living next door to everybody

Small house neighbourhood in Uenomachi, Kitakami.