3.11 Remembered

Today is the one year anniversary of 3.11 Disaster that struck Japan.  I wrote about my experience one year ago.

Today, as I ran in Inokashira Park, there were many people gathered for a demonstration calling for the government to take more action for the relief of the victims and against nuclear power plants.

Later on, they marched the streets of Kichijoji.

There were many TV shows about it.  Here, attendees of a memorial ceremony (attended by our Emperor and Empress) bow to do a moment of silence exactly a year after the original earthquake (2:46 PM Japan time).

Here's another shot of the TV screen - live from Rikuzentakata. Still a large ship that floated into the city by the tsunami remains.

Another TV show showed how the earthquake waves struck Tokyo.  Three consecutive seismic waves attacked Tokyo.

From the the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear fall-out of one year ago, Japan suffered over 17,000 deaths, some 27,000 people injured and as of today, 3,155 people are still missing and 343,935 people are evacuated from the affected areas.

Here in Japan, we are still coping with the aftermath of the terrible disaster.

Singapore Run, etc.

I spent a week in Singapore for a conference.  While I was there, I could run three times.

These are steps that go up to Fort Canning.

I saw this sign up at the top.  I was not ready to climb over the fence.

This is the Helix Bridge - made beautifully of stainless steel.

On the other side of Marina Bay from our hotel stood the famous statue of Merlion. When I ran in an early morning, as it was captured by my camera, it was not squirting water into the bay.  But right after I took this photo, water started.  Maybe it has a motion sensor.

A panoramic view - this one is looking towards our hotel from the statue of Merlion.  The hotel is the one in the middle - three buildings joined by a bridging structure.

This photo is not of running, but the pool at the top of the 57-story hotel I stayed.

A panoramic city view from the pool - the water body is Marina Bay.

Snow in Kanzawa

When I had a short visit to Kanazawa last week. I was greeted by a lot of snow.  It snowed all day and well into the night.  I was worried that I may not be able to come back to Tokyo the following morning.

This is at Komatsu Airport next morning.  The flight was only slightly delayed.  All Nippon Airways (or ANA) was very reliable.

Back in Tokyo's Haneda Airport. - less than 30 min. flight, from Komatsu weather was completely clear and fine.

Tokyo Gate Bridge Run

Tokyo Gate Bridge is the newest addition to the collection of great bridges in Tokyo Harbor.  The total length of it is 2,618 m with the distance between towers being 440 m is actually longer than that of the celebrated Tokyo's Rainbow Bridge and Yokohama Bay Bridge. It will be open to public next weekend.

To celebrate it, there was an 8K run on Saturday morning.

It was a beautiful day - Mt. Fuji was very clear seen.

Here's the bridge - magnificent!

At the start - some 5,000 runners participated!

About 1 km into the run - almost to the first of the two great trusses.

On the truss - it is beautiful.  Notice - almost no bolts!

After the turn around point heading back to the bridge.

Back on the bridge again.  Runners were very happy to be running on it on such a beautiful day.

Tokyo Fire Department ships saluted us as seagulls flew by.

Helicopter ride over Tokyo

I had a chance to take a helicopter ride over Tokyo.

Here are some helicopters at Tokyo Heliport.

Just after taking off from the heliport.

We first went to Akasaka-Roppongi area.  This is the center of Tokyo.  The red/white structure is Tokyo Tower.

Shibuya.  The tall building is Hikarie, the new high-rise due to open in April.

Shinjuku - this where we have the most concentration of skyscrapers in Tokyo.

Tokyo Dome - the home of Tokyo Yomiuri Giants Baseball Team.

Senso-ji Temple of Asakusa district.  Water is Sumida River.

Tokyo Skytree - now the tallest building in Japan.  It's grand opening is in May.

I had a very nice sightseeing flight over the city of Tokyo.

Nagoya - Sapporo

I had a busy week traveling around Japan last week, I visited Nagoya and Sapporo before coming back to Tokyo.

I could take a nice run in Nagoya - the city where I visited the castle last summer.

Below is the photo of a former TV Tower.   It is currently under renovation to have the transmission systems be converted for digital broadcasting.

A Ferris Wheel at Sunshine Sakae.

A big Karaoke building.

In Sapporo, I did not run for because of the snow on the ground.  It was -8 deg. C. when I woke up in the morning.

This is Sapporo TV Tower - slightly shorter than the one in Nagoya seen from Sapporo City Hall.

Sapporo is famous for Ramen noodles.  This is the entrance for "Sapporo Ramen Kyowakoku (Republic)" where many Ramen restaurants are housed together.

I hope to gather more info on Sapporo on my next trip so I can write more about it.

Iwappara

I went skiing with my family for the holidays to Iwappara, Niigata Prefecture.

This is from the bottom of the slopes.

Two photos from the top of the ski slopes.

A panorama photo of the area close from our hotel.

We had a wonderful time there.