Wednesday, April 07, 2010

"Kichijoji Inokashira Park - Sakura Viewing (Hanami-taikai)" 2010

The weather hasn't been the best for viewing the sakura (cherry blossom) trees this year.  About half the days so far have been rainy.  When I went by Kichijoji on Tuesday evening (yesterday) though, it was quite nice - not too cold, no rain, and no wind.  On the other hand, there were many police to chase people out of the park when the clock reached 10:00 p.m!

It was too dark to take very good videos, but one of the clips below was taken in the heart of the park with everyone going strong in their sakura party modes.  The other clips are of heading to the park from Kichijoji Station, and then heading back to Kichijoji Station from Inokashira Park.

"Arriving in Kichijoji" (100406-2144)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTt4hn0DeZU

Arriving at Kichijoji on the Chuo Line and heading downstairs towards the ticket gates as the train I disembarked from gets under way.

中央線で吉祥寺駅に到着  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 9:44 p.m.)

"Walking to Inokashira Park" (100406-2147)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d8f4pdu0cA

Walking down the narrow street that leads to Inokashira Park from Kichijoji Station.  About the same number of people are returning from the park as are going there.  Inokashira Park is one of the more popular places for "hanami" parties when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

吉祥寺駅から、井の頭公園に行く途中  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 9:47 p.m.)

"Entering Inokashira Park for Hanami" (100406-2149)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1snVGC_DQ4

Walking past the shops and restaurants at the end of the narrow street leading to Inokashira Park from Kichijoji Station, and then walking down the steps that lead into the park.

I hadn't noticed it at the time, but in reviewing this clip, I see there's a banner at the entrance saying that hanami parties are until 10:00.  No doubt brought about by the raucous noise that is generated by some groups, and the proximity of the park to residential areas.

井の頭公園に入るとこと  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 9:49 p.m.)

"Inokashira Late Night Sakura Walk" (100406-2158)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lps8s61Nz0

A bit dark for taking a video, the audio part is probably more descriptive of the scene by the pond in Inokashira Park than the visual element, but you can see enough to imagine the scene somewhat.

I was sitting by the pond enjoying a can drink when I looked over and saw a group of police officers about 20 meters away purposefully standing in a group, so I thought "Uh-oh... Curfew?" and pulled out my cell phone to check the time - just before 10:00 p.m!  I jumped up and took this video with my right hand, while holding the unfinished drink with my left hand, knowing that the atmosphere was about to (figuratively) receive a spray of cold water!

夜遅く井の頭公園の池隣の散歩  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 9:58 p.m.)

"Police in Inokashira Park Enforcing 10:00 p.m. Curfew" (100406-2204)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWGnhF_SCWg

As I had suspected when I saw a group of police officers purposefully standing together, at 10:00 p.m. they switched on their light sticks, formed a line, and started going from group to group, telling them that it was now past the 10:00 p.m. curfew and they had to break up their hanami parties and go home.

夜遅く井の頭公園で警察が花見大会を終了させる時  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:04 p.m.)

"Walking Away from Inokashira Park at Night" (100406-2206)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smqlk42XdKs

Walking along the narrow street between Inokashira Park and Kichijoji Station after 10:00 p.m., the hanami party curfew for the park.

I noticed several people still headed *into* the park, so I wondered how that would work out.  Maybe only large groups (which generate the most noise) were being asked to break it up - maybe couples were still allowed to quietly be there?

井の頭公園から吉祥寺駅までの細い夜道を歩きながら  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:06 p.m.)

"People Traffic Jam by Kichijoji Station" (100406-2209)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78TvcaQOqZE

After having been stopped at a traffic light to allow fire-breathing machinery free passage, these bipeds created a people traffic jam in the street leading to the station.

吉祥寺駅近くの人込み  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:09 p.m.)

"Kichijoji Station Crowds & Entering Ticket Gates" (100406-2211)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad8YY3gEuaw

Typical crowded evening scene at Kichijoji Station.  (Actually, most stations anywhere near central Tokyo are something like this in the evening.)

吉祥寺駅の人込みとJR改札口  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:11 p.m.)

"Chuo Line Arriving at Kichijoji Station" (100406-2213)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SkpwPq3VzY

View of a Chuo Line train arriving at Kichijoji Station - including the station announcements, both for the outbound train and the inbound train.

吉祥寺駅で中央線の到着  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:13 p.m.)

"Reflective Window View While Leaving Kichijoji" (100406-2213)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrDrKTWWdOg

A reflective view out/in the window of a Chuo Line train as it leaves Kichijoji Station.

吉祥寺駅からの中央線出発眺め(内)  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 10:13 p.m.)

Lyle (Hiroshi) Saxon
http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~LLLtrs/
http://youtube.com/lylehsaxon
http://tokyoartmusic.blogspot.com/

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