What comes after Tokyo Sky tree; Space Elevator

With waiting for a grand opening of Tokyo Sky Tree on May 22, the ticket reservation to go up to observatory has started from March 22. For the reservation for a initial period from May 22 until July 10, it is going to be a drawing to buy actual tickets. During this period, no day ticket is available, so you need to reserve the tickets in advance.

Since the Tokyo Sky Tree is going to be one of the tallest structure in the world (634m, tallest as a broadcasting tower, second tallest after Burj Khalifa (828m) in Dubai.), the tower can be seen from various points in Tokyo.

Since we don't see visible and easy to understand No.1 in Japan for a long time, this news sounds  very exciting for many Japanese people.

The towns around this tower already have gotten many sightseers from various area in Japan.  Because of this high profile monument, the nearest rail station recently changed its name from long-historically name, narihira bashi to Tokyo Sky Tree station.

It took three and half years to complete the construction. The construction was made by one of the largest general contractors in Japan, Obyashi Corp.

Now, Obayashi Corp announced this February its vision to develop Space Elevator by 2050.  This idea is to drape the two cables, made of  carbon nanotube, from space satellite and fix them to a land station on the earth.

Once this space elevator is constructed, it will help minimize the cost to launch space ship and materialize  to carry numerous number of people and materials to space, and of course, from space to the earth.

Still, the challenge is to find such carbon nanotube that is long and light enough, (in addition cheap enough) to build out such long cables. But after the announcement of its vision, Obayashi spokesman said that they've got many offers from various technology companies and academics to help this incredibly hard project move forward.

Obayashi is well known for its challenge spirit to tackle with technically hard project, I hope this project also comes true someday near future.

Yell by Ikimono-gakari

I found the original video clip here.
Yell by Ikimono-gakari

Ikimono-gakari, music group composed by two male guitarists and female vocalist is the most popular music group in Japan. In the very segmented music market in Japan,Ikimonogakari tries to create the music that are to be loved by all generations.

Most of the music are composed by either one of of these male guitarists, Yoshiki Mizuno and Hotaka Yamashita. A few are composed by Kiyoe Yoshioka, vocalist.

The lyrics in their song is famous for their messages that can be resonated by every generations.

This "Yell" was written by Yoshiki Mizuno in 2009 and won many awards.

The lyrics starts;

J;"Watashi wa ima dokoni aruno" to, fumishimeta ashiato wo nandomo mitsume kaesu.
E:(“Where am I now?”, looking back on my footsteps over and over again, that I’ve left to date.)

J: Kareha wo daki, akimeku madobe ni, kajikanda yubisakide yume wo egaita
E;(I held up the fallen leaves with my cold fingertips on the autumn window, and embraced my dreams for the future.)

J; Tsubasa wa arunoni tobezuni irunda. Hitorini narunoga kowakute, tsurakute.
E;(I have wings, but I couldn't fly, because I was afraid of being alone, and it was too painful.)

J; Yasashii hidamarini katayoseru hibiwo koete, bokura kodokuna yumeeto aruku.
E; (We’re leaving behind the days, when we were altogether doing everything in the gentle sunshine, and we're starting walking to our lonely dreams.)

**)Refrain
J; Sayonara wa kanashii kotoba janai
E; (Saynonara is not a sad word.)

J; Sorezoreno yumeeto bokura wo tsunagu 'YELL'
E; (It’s a yell that connects us to our individual dreams.)

J: Tomoni sugoshita hibi wo muneni daite
E; (Embracing the days that we spent together in my heart,)

J: Tobidatsuyo hitoride tsugino sorae
E; (I am going to fly alone to the next sky.)


It's still teenager's song, but also move older generation's mind.

As Ikimonogakari admits by themselves, this album is one of their best album.




Recntly, one music album contains very limited number of good songs.
Unlike those too much commercialized albun, this album has many songs that are really good , such as


-Joyful
-Nakumonka (E: Never Cry!)
-Mahiru no Tsuki (E: Moon in the daylight)
-Hotaru no Hikari (E; Light of Firebug)


Other songs are also good.

the Best Graduation Songs for 2012

Now, the graduation season is coming. This week and next week will be a peak for the graduations for from kindergarten pupils to university students.

At the every graduation ceremony, students will sing a song as a final ceremony, which will extremely generate the sense of unity, and also a sense that we're really going apart.

 Now here is the top two best songs for graduation this year.


This song was composed and written by a princpal of one of the public schools in Saitama Pref. He says he wanted to give the one and only gift to his students. The tile of this song is 'for the day we depart.' It's very simple and straitforward title, isn't it? Such simpleness is the reason everyone love this song. In this clip, you can see typical scenary of a school in Japan. So, please enjoy,

The 2nd song is 'Yell' by Ikimono gakari.
Unlike the first song, this song is written and played by the professional and the most popular music group. So, I can't find the video clip played by Ikimono gakari on Youtube. So, instead, here is the one,

When Level 7 earthquake hit Tokyo

Yesterday, one of research group of the Ministry of Education and Science raised the level of the intense of the shake that may happens when earthquake happens under the neath of Tokyo area from 6 to 7.

This research group made field surveyed the geological layer beneath of Tokyo area and found out that the expected  epicenter would be 10km more shallow (closer to the surface) than expected before.

The level7 is the strongest level of the shake that meteorological bureau defines.


The difference is huge. When level7 earthquake hits, wooden pillar housing will be collapse instantly, if additional reinforcement is not done.

You can't move because of the intense shake of the ground, or building.
And furniture in house will fall or fly over anywhere. (The more light the furniture is, the more the possibility of the furniture fly. The typical furniture that is considered light is appliance like TV, DVD or bookshelf etc.)

It is said that the possibility to happen this level of earthquake hit Tokyo within coming two or three decades is over 40%.

So, lock the furniture to the wall, and put a special sticker under those appliance. It was proved that those small improvement makes huge difference.

Spa near Tokyo, or make your bath home spa

Japanese people really love spa. That's for sure. Though it is getting warmer, still we have chilly days these days.

So, where you should go. There are a lot of hot spa near Tokyo.
(Actually, super-sento in city area which dug around 1,000m to reach to a source of SPA, are becoming also popular.)

However, my recommendation is Tenzan in Hakone area.
It's just one and half hour train ride from Shinjuku and locates in deep Hakone forest.
Take Odakyu Romance-car of Odakyu Line from Shinjuku Station.

When I lived in Tokyo, I frequently visited this spa and ate Oshi-sushi, which is not with raw fish but with lightly vinegared makarel.
It was good.











And for the people who don't live near spa (On- Sen), use these bath additives, which you can find easily at convenience store, or pharmacy.

There are various type of package, typically including 5 small bags. One bag (30mg) per one use.

One bag costs about JPY 100. So, not that expensive.

Those additives add your bath water similar components of famous Hot Spring around Japan. That way, you don't need to go travel around, but you can get feeling that you've come to famous spa.

(Actual addtives are not exactly same as hot spa. It excludes the components that may hurt your bath equipment, such as sulfur etc.)