Category Archives: Mirai 2-111

01 FL 007 Roof, Art, Customs Culture, Mirai 2-111

Roof tiles, かわら kawara

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There are two words in Japanese for “roof”: 

屋上　おくじょう  okujō  = “on top of” “shop” = a flat roof you can walk on

and

屋根　やね　yane  = “shop” “root” = the wooden structure on top


Therefore roof tiles, or かわら kawara, are found on a やね yane and おくじょう okujō are usually made of solid concrete, so you can walk on them. Almost all schools in Japan have おくじょう okujō. Roof tiles are therefore always on a やね yane.




かわら kawara  on a やね yane


かわら kawara on  a やね yane




かわら kawara on a やね yane  



かわら kawara on a やね yane  




かわら kawara on a やね yane  

かわら kawara on a やね yane  

かわら kawara on a やね yane  

 ねこ neko cats on the かわら kawara on a やね yane  

かわら kawara on a やね yane 

かわら kawara on a やね yane 

かわら kawara on a やね yane 

かわら kawara on a やね yane 

かわら kawara on a やね yane 

かわら kawara on a やね yane 

05 LP 093 Religion, Mirai 2-111, Religion

Outside a Japanese shrine　じんじゃのそと

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てみず

The kanji on the stone reads SHINSEN (KOKORO ARAU) and it means Heart Cleanse; this is the place to cleanse one’s heart before facing the Divine.



おみくじ



えま


The picture on the charm refers to a daruma:
daruma


Whatever the original meaning of much of religious practices over the years tourists tended to have a different view and a different appreciation. What once was a more serious aspect of safe keeping often is now a mere souvenir trinket. This change is not only noticeable in Japan, but in many other countries as well. 


This is a comprehensive site on shrine visiting etiquette:



Religion is an intensely personal and private view. The views and observations expressed here are intended as a general overview and in no way reflect the writer’s own personal views. The observations are merely from a cultural perspective.


Photos by S. Lowry, Japan
05 LP 054 Kyoto, 06 TT 091 Kyoto Landmarks, Animals, Holidays, Kusatsu 草津, Mirai 2-111, Nagano 長野

Lake Biwa Museum – Kusatsu near Kyoto

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Here is the English link to the museum.
It is well worth the visit:

On this website you can find how to book, or how to take school tours, and the minimal cost of the visit. Excellent outing while you are in Kyoto with students, if you want to “un-temple, de-pavilionise, de-view, de-heianise”. (new words for you).


Art, Famous Buildings Places, Mirai 2-111, Obentō 02-152

National Arts Center　国立新美術館

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The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
The National Arts Center
National New Museum of Fine Art　
国立新美術館
こくりつしんびじゅつかん
More information:

The National Arts Center

Mirai 2-111, Technology
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The unfinished K Computer is already the world's fastest with its 68,500 processors. Photo / Supplied

Meet the world’s fastest computer: 8 petaflops
8:46 AM Tuesday Jun 21, 2011
The unfinished K Computer is already the world’s fastest with its 68,500 processors.
A Japanese supercomputer has become the fastest in the world, making calculations more than three times faster than a Chinese rival, its developers said.
The K Computer has achieved 8.162 quadrillion calculations per second, or 8.162 petaflops in computer jargon, according to developers Fujitsu and the state-funded Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, known as RIKEN.
In doing so K Computer overtook China’s Tianhe-1A of the National Supercomputing Centre in Tianjin, which became the world number-one in November and is capable of operating at 2.566 petaflops.
The K Computer’s performance was recognised by the Top500 List of Supercomputers released at the 2011 International Supercomputing Conference in Hamburg, Germany, Fujitsu and RIKEN said in a statement.
It is the first Japanese supercomputer since 2004 to become the world’s fastest, a symbolic moment for a nation proud of its cutting edge technology.
NEC’s Earth Simulator was the world’s fastest machine between June 2002 and November 2004.
K Computer’s developers say the machine will be powerful enough to tackle complex calculations relating to climate research and disaster prevention.
“Use of the K computer is expected to have a ground-breaking impact in fields ranging from global climate research, meteorology, disaster prevention, and medicine, thereby contributing to the creation of a prosperous and secure society,” the statement added.
K Computer is still being configured and has been assembled since October 2010 at a RIKEN’s facility in Kobe, western Japan, where it should be completed by June 2012, the statement said.
It is made up of 672 computer cabinets currently equipped with of 68,544 computer processing units (CPUs), Fujitsu and RIKEN said in a press release.
When finished, the machine will have more than 80,000 CPUs and be able to operate at 10 peta-flops.
Fujitsu and RIKEN chiefs said in statements that the project, launched in 2006 with a total budget of about 112 billion yen (NZ$1.7 billion), had overcome supply chain difficulties caused by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country’s northeast Tohoku region.
Fujitsu chairman Michiyoshi Mazuka said he was grateful to “our partners in the Tohoku region for their commitment to delivering a steady supply of components, even though they themselves were affected by the disaster.”
RIKEN president Ryoji Noyori said: “I very much believe that the strength and perseverance that was demonstrated during this project will also make possible the recovery of the devastated Tohoku region.”
Noyori, the 2001 Nobel laureate in chemistry, told a news conference later: “I am glad because the world number-one spot, by such an overwhelming margin, has proven that our country’s industrial technology remains sound.”
“After all, we must aim for the top in research.”
The project’s budget was slashed by 11 billion yen in late 2009 under a belt-tightening drive by the centre-left government.
A minister in charge of administrative reform asked at that time: “What is the reason for seeking to be the world number one? Can’t you make do with second place?”
But the K Computer may find it hard to survive intensifying competition as a 1,000-petaflops supercomputer is under consideration in the United States while China continues to invest heavily in supercomputer development, the Yomiuri newspaper said.
– AFP
06 TT 099 Hiroshima, City Life, Hiroshima 広島, Mirai 2-111, Obentō 01-047

Modern Hiroshima 現代の広島　げんだいのひろしま

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広島　ひろしま　Hiroshima

























Hiroshima Castle with moat. These days it is all concrete with steel and wood on the outside. As is clear, apart from the museum and the Dome, there are no reminders of the events some 60 years ago if it were not for the pain still felt in many hearts.










おこのみやき
Hiroshima is well known for its delicious okonomiyaki eating places.







A new addition to the Hiroshima skyline are the gondola.