Saturday, April 10, 2010

"Shinjuku, Sakura, Train Views, etc."

Opening with a moment in a park beneath the springtime cherry blossoms - with a light breeze and someone playing a guitar and harmonica.  Then getting back on the trains - a large part of living in Tokyo.  In Akihabara, a look at construction under the highly elevated tracks (where there used to be a department store) and a walk through the narrow passages of the area full of small shops selling component electronic parts.  Also a view of crossing over the boundary between Yurakucho and Ginza.

"Sakura Trees, a Guitar & a Harmonica" (100406-1753)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrMTa-pDPjI

Looking up at blooming sakura (cherry blossom) trees with a relaxed partly cloudy sky overhead and a man nearby playing a guitar and harmonica.  Spring is a great time!

桜の咲いている木、ギターとハーモニカ - 春万歳!  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 5:53 p.m.)

"Typical Shinjuku Scenes Near the Railway" (100406-1848)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG71BufpabQ

Typical scenes in Shinjuku near the railway lines.  First, walking across one of Tokyo's large intersections, with a very wide crosswalk to handle the large number of people that build up waiting for the fire-breathing machinery to momentarily stop so human beings can walk.  (I like cars in many settings, but not in Tokyo!)  Then a walk through the "Omoide-Yokocho" lane full of yakitori izakaya shops.

新宿の線路隣の風景  思いで横丁居酒屋  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 6:48 p.m.)

"Shinjuku - West Side Sidewalk" (100406_1902)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgpec6lH6rI

Walking down the sidewalk that runs in front of Keio Department Store on the west side of Shinjuku Station.

新宿の道を歩きながら  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 7:02 p.m.)

"Highway Buses at Shinjuku Bus Terminal" (100406-1905)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQeDHwzOiQo

Walking by a couple of highway buses stopped in front of the highway bus terminal in Nishi-Shinjuku.

新宿バスターミナル(ヨドバシカメラの隣)  東京  (Recorded on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010, at 7:05 p.m.)

"Akihabara Small Electronics Parts Vendors" (100331-1345)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKSmKWFPnwk

Starting with a quick look at new construction near Akihabara Station (where a department store used to be) and then diving into a couple of the narrow passageways (almost like tunnels) with many small shops selling electronics parts.  Electronics used to be what Akihabara was all about (and still is to a certain extent), but with the proliferation of discount electronics stores all over Tokyo; fewer people making their own radios and whatnot; and the manga industry moving into Akihabara, business for parts sellers like this has been on the decline.

秋葉原電気部品販売所と駅の近くの工事  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 1:45 p.m.)

"Akihabara Station Construction in Early 2010" (100331_1347)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J41dGTG8_g4

A content video to show what the area right by Akihabara Station looked like while it was under construction on March 31st, 2010.  Tokyo is constantly changing, so you have to record things if you want to understand the history of this city....

秋葉原駅の工事  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 1:47 p.m.)

"Akihabara Station Loading to Tokyo Station Unloading" (100331-1351)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQEUI7_Pg70

Starting off with a platform view at Akihabara Station as a Keihin-Tohoku Line train comes in (followed by the doors-about-to-close melody), and then looking out (mainly) a right side window, followed by a move to the left side in preparation for getting off the train in Tokyo.

This video clip includes the full in-train announcements in English and Japanese, and also a quick look at the inside of the train, as well as the welcome announcement at Tokyo Station, followed by the Tokyo Station doors-about-to-close melody and the recorded warning that the doors are about to close.

秋葉原駅の電車乗るところから、有楽町駅降りるところまで  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 1:51 p.m.)

"Tokyo to Yurakucho Left Side View" (100331-1356)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsq4AAuR8vQ

A left-side view from a Yamanote Line train running from Tokyo Station to Yurakucho Station, including in-train announcements and the Yurakucho Station announcements.

東京駅から、有楽町駅までの左側風景  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 1:56 p.m.)

"Entering Ginza - Crossing Street" (100331-1401)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xan3-1BLX14

Coming from Yurakucho Station, walking along the fringe of Yurakucho and then crossing the street that forms the border between Yurakucho and Ginza.

有楽町から、銀座へ入るところ  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 2:01 p.m.)

"Hibiya Park Sakura Tree in Full Bloom" (100331-1618)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQvG4oPFKTY

A close look at a sakura tree in full bloom in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo, with a green background and very few people about.

日比谷公園の咲いた桜の木  東京  (Recorded on Wednesday, March 31st, 2010, at 4:18 p.m.)

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

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