Hello! from Japan

About Japan and my life

composer

New Album, “Free Somebody” is out!

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Hi, How’s it going?
May 1, 2019 is the first day of Japan’s new era, 令和 Reiwa.
And it is the release date of my new mini album, “Free Somebody”.
Among hundreds of songs I wrote, I chose 4 songs and recorded during Oct last year and Jan to March this year. Then I had an engineer mixed in April.

It’s been about 4 years since I released my last full album “Skyhigh” ,which was my first and an experimental work using a lot of instruments including synth guitar, vocal effects, banjo, violin, soundscape, etc.
This new album has the message “Set yourself free to free people around you.”
I focused more on words, melodies, and vocals this time.
Just like the last time, I composed and played all instruments, and then wrote lyrics and took all vocals (the guitar solo on 1 and 3 are played by Yoshihiro Kajita, the guitar player I admire the most in Japan).
The analog mixing technique by the engineer, Michifumi Onodera helped the album create the feeling of floating.
If you have speakers in your room, I recommend that you play my music using them and you can fully enjoy the acoustics.

The album artwork is by Gaku Yamazaki, a cartoonist in Tokyo.
The door represents the way to the freedom.
It is always up there right in front of you and waiting for you to open.

I feel that I’m very fortunate to be able to work with great talents!You can watch movies of the recording process on my another post: https://hidanotaka.com/happy-new-year/

Here are the 4 songs and lyrics.

recording

1.Angel
I wanted to express true love through this song.
It has a unique floating feeling with the sounds of synthesizer and the air.

Lyrics:
“I’ll be waiting for you to come here
Until the day I’ll be with you
No matter how long it takes I really don’t care
‘cause my life is for you
You are an angel for me
There’s nobody else like you
Must be an angel for me
I really love the way you are
When I see your eyes that make me feel alright
When I see your smile that makes my world so bright… “

2.One
This song is about “Living through anything”.
We only live once and with strength and belief, I believe that we can push the limits to achieve what we desire.

Lyrics:
“窓の向こうの青い空　ずっと見つめている
You are looking at the blue sky through the window

何かを探しているような　迷っているような
You seem like looking for something or maybe wondering where to go

そんな顔で君は　もううつむかないで
Don’t look down with the sad face like that anymore

何も起こらないよ　
Nothing will happen doing that

誰かの声を待っていちゃ　奇跡だってさ
If you are just waiting for someone to show you the way

さあその手で扉を開いて　その足でこの世界を行くんだ
Now, open the door with your hands and live your life

そこで待っているよ　もっと大きな自分自身
And you will be a lot greater

未完成のままで誰も皆 流されながら歩いているんだ
Everyone is incomplete, and walking/flowing in time just like you

だって一度きりの　二度とない世界で生きているから
We all have one life and living in this world

3. Sounds of Words
This song is about the miscommunication, or the relationships among people who can not understand each other just saying words meaninglessly.
That is sort of a situation which lets everyone down.
I wanted to include this song in the album to express the difficulties we face in life.

Lyrics:
“What are these things we are talking every day and night?
Just like another world’s end,
Nowhere we can go

And there are only words that floating in this empty space
Is there anyway we can find a way to go?

I just want to be with you and that is all
But when I look at you ,you look away and nobody knows
what is going on and then this moment of silence
comes and goes and take us to the place we’ve been before
You just want to be with me that is what you say

But when you look at me I look away unintentionally
moving away from the time we should share
and the sounds of words are fading away again.”

4.Free Somebody
This song is about living harmoniously with someone important.
And that is the way one should take after setting his/herself free, I believe.

Lyrics:
“僕らはこの毎日の意味を知らずに歩いていた
We were walking without noticing the messages we receive everyday

あの日いつもの交差点で出会うその日まで
Until the day when we met at the crossing that we would go through

何かが始まる音がして　時計が止まった
We felt that something started and the time stopped for a moment

この先の道に何も　確かなことは無くとも
We don’t know what the future brings

ずっと笑い合っていようよ　今はこのままで
But let’s be together and stay as we are

寂しさや悲しみさえも　分け合えるように
And we can share the ups and downs

どうかそのままでいてね
So please stay as you are

いつか思い出が風に消えるまで
Until the very last day when the memories fade in the air

そっと手を重ねて 離さないように
Let’s hold hands and be as one

ずっとこの日々が輝きますように
I hope to continue this forever

そっと手を重ねて 離さないように
Let’s hold hands and be as one

Here is the link to download/listen to this new album: Free Somebody
My previous work, is also available: Skyhigh 

I will keep on creating art and music.
I’m very thankful for being able to do what I like and really appreciate everyone’s support.

I hope my works will be your inspiration.
Taka

taka


Japanese secret agent “Ninja” explained

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Hi! How are you doing? March is almost over!
Most schools and companies start new year on April 1st and people are busy preparing for the change during this season.
I don’t have many changes except that I will be busier from next month. haha
I will keep on creating music and posting useful information here.
Please come visit here sometimes!

Alright, about “Ninja” this time.
If you are interested in Japanese culture, I’m sure you have heard the word “Ninja” somewhere.
Maybe from Anime, Manga, Movies, or Magazines.
But what really is Ninja? Do they still exist?
What did they do? Where can we appreciate Ninja today?

I gathered info and wrote about this mysterious agent.
Have fun learning about Japanese culture and Ninja!

What is Ninja?

Ninjas are assassins, spies or secret forces with special techniques in feudal Japan.
Their work were espionage, infiltration, sabotage, assassination and guerrilla attack.
As the name 忍者 (忍/Nin means to hide, and 者/ja means person. The word 忍 can also be pronounced “Shinobi”, so Ninjas were called Shinobi as well) shows, they were the ones that lived in secrecy like CIA of today.

It is believed that they existed and were particularly active from Muromachi period to Edo period (From 1,336 to 1,868).

Most records of Ninja were destroyed or well-guarded.
Therefore, there are very few official documents about their activities and existence.
We only know some of the secret information passed down orally, and have little information from very few books written about Ninja.

Iga and Koga (Mie and Shiga prefecture today) are the two places that are rich in Ninja history.
Those places were ideal hideouts for refugees and bandits who became Ninjas.
A lot of Daimiyos(warlords) would hire ninjas of Iga and Koga in the 15th and 16th century to bring victories to the battles.

In the 17th century, they were hired as spies or guards by the central government, Tokugawa Shogunate, to protect the government and the Edo Castle (They were called “Oniwaban”. Some people claim that Ninja and Oniwaban were different, but we do not have enough information about their activities and relations).

Later on, Ninjas were romanticized in plays like Kabuki (Japanese traditional drama) to entertain audiences.
Many of the images that people have about Ninjas today are exaggerated or unreal mostly because of Kabuki, movies, and animes.

Ninjutsu(Ninpo)

忍術 Ninjutsu (or sometimes called 忍法 Ninpo) were the many different kinds of skills practiced by Ninjas.
It is believed that Ninjutsu was developed by the samurai of Nanboku-cho period (1,336 to 1,392) and polished by groups in Iga and Koga later.
Ninjutsu involved training of disguise, escape, free running, assassination, medicine, etc.
Below were the famous Ninjutsu using the 5 elements of nature.

Katon(Fire) no Jutsu

Using fire, make smoke to block enemy’s view and run away.

Suiton(Water) no Jutsu

Hide underwater (most people could not swim back then, so trained Ninjas had advantages just being able to swim).
Ninjas used bamboo pipes to stay in the water for a long time.

Mokuton(Plant/Tree) no Jutsu

Hide yourself using a cloth that looks like the skin of tree/plant.

Kinton(Metal/Gold) no Jutsu

Distract or misdirect using concealed weapons like Shrunken (hidden hand blade).

Doton(Earth) no Jutsu

Make holes on the way of escape, and stay there to hide yourself from enemies when running away.

Famous Ninjas and legends

As we have very limited information of Ninja and their activities, we can not know if all information about them are correct, but below are the popular Ninjas and legends that exist on old books.

Fujibayashi Nagato

He was a leader of the Iga ninjas in the 16th century.
They fought against Oda Nobunaga, the most powerful daimyo at the time.
Later on, Nobunaga invaded Iga to kill all Ninjas there.
Fujibayashi’s family escaped and went into hiding to preserve their culture.
Nagato’s descendant, Yatake wrote the book about the training of Ninja called Bansenshukai.
Another famous leader of the Iga ninjas was Momochi Sandayu, who taught Ishikawa Goemon and Kirigakure Saizo.

Ishikawa Goemon

He was a Ninja in Iga and was a student of Momochi Sandayu.
After the attack of Nobunaga, he ran away and spent 15 years stealing things from wealthy family and temples.
He planned to assassinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s (he was a preeminent daimyo at the time) wife in 1594.
He was caught and put alive in a cauldron with boiling water.
The execution took place at the gate of Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto.

Hattori Hanzo

He trained Ninja skills in Iga and served Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Together with remaining Ninjas after Nobunaga’s attack, he helped Ieyasu to become the ruler of Japan ,and his family worked as guards of Edo Castle.
Even to this day, Hanzo’s legacy remain.
There’s a gate called Hanzo’s Gate/Hanzomon at Imperial Palace in Tokyo, and Hanzomon subway line runs from Hanzomon Station in the center of Tokyo.

Mochizuki Chiyome

She was the wife of a samurai, Mochizuki Moritoki of Shinano (Nagano prefecture today) and worked as a female ninja in the 16th century.
She is from Koga and  formed the all-women ninjas known as Kunoichi and served under Takeda clan.
She recruited prostitutes, refugees, orphans, etc and trained them to be entertainers like Gaisha or Miko (Shinto maiden),who were allowed to travel freely.
They disguised and worked as spies to gather important information from rival warlords or sometimes to assassinate them.

Ningu, the unique weapons

Ningus were the tools that Ninjas used.
Most of them were portable and very well designed.
Here are the 4 major Ningus.

Shuriken

It is a hidden hand blade.It was used to distract or misdirect, or to kill the target at a distance.
There are many shapes of shrunken.
The major kinds are Bo shrunken (Stick shrunken),Hira Shrunken (flat shuriken), and Shaken (wheel shuriken).

Fukiya

It is a Japanese blowgun.
They were typically around 50 cm long and Ninjas used special darts with poisoned tips.
(The pipe was sometimes used for Suiton no Jutsu as well).

Kunai

It is a multi-functional weapon.
Ninjas used it to make holes in walls and grounds.
A rope can be attached to the ring and it helped Ninjas climb the walls or trees.
It could also be used in hand to hand combat.

Makibishi

They are sharp, spiked small objects.
Ninjas would throw them behind to slow down pursuers.
There were mainly two kinds of it: Tetsubishi (Iron caltrops) and Tennenbishi (Natural type of caltrop).
Some planted on the ground in advance and used it to defense.


Shuriken and Kunai

Where to appreciate Ninja/Ninjutsu today

Below are the places where you can learn more about Ninja today.
They are great for both visitors and those who want to deeply understand its art and culture.

Modern Ninja school/Shop

There are many Ninja schoold where you can experience being a Ninja.
Among them, NINJA DOJO and STORE is one of the most popular.
You can learn to use Shrunken and Fukiya ,and get some Ningus as souvenirs.

Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm (Closed irregularly)
Access: 3 min walk away from Shijo station

VR Ninja Dojo

On March 18th of this year, VR Ninja Dojo opened in Kanda, Tokyo.
You can were Ninja clothes and enjoy the world of Ninja using VR technology!
*There is VR Ninja Dojo in Kyoto as well.

Hours: 9:30am to 9:30pm
Access: 5 min walk away from Kanda station

Ninja museum of Iga-ryu

Ninja museum of Iga-ryu is a museum of Ninja in Mie prefecture.
It is a great place to learn the history of Ninja.
On display, there are a lot of tools and clothes that actual ninjas used.
Visitors can enjoy watching a show of Ninja as well.

Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm (Closed from Dec 29th to Jan 1st)
Access: 5 min walk away from Ueno-shi station

Edo Wonderland

Edo Wonderland is one of the most popular Ninja spots located in Tochigi prefecture.
As the name shows, you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of Edo period here.
It is like an amusement park with a lot of attractions including Ninja shows.
You can also appreciate cuisine from Edo-period and the place makes you feel like
you were a citizen of Edo!

Hours: 9:00am to 17:00pm
Access: 15 min by bus from Kinugawa Onsen station

Ahh, Ninjas are so cool, aren’t they?
I remember reading books about Ninja like crazy when I was a kid.

Although most of the Ninja culture has already died out and we don’t have real Ninjas alive now, the mysterious/secret skills they had still attracts a lot of people.


Btw, this is me wearing Ninja like clothes! Looks so evil lol
(This attire is called Kuroko, clothes for assistants of stage performers)

The pic was taken when I was a stage actor.
I used to appear on the stage in Shinjuku Kinokuniya where as many as 418 people can seat. It reminds of the good old days.

See you next time!
Taka

 

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

6 things you should to do in Fukuoka

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Hi! How’s it going?
It got really cold the other day and snowed a bit but nice and warm these days in Japan.
This time, let me introduce Fukuoka prefecture.
It’s my first time to write about Kyushu area.

Fukuoka is a prefecture in Kyushu, which is located southwest of main island, or Honshu.
Kyushu is Japan’s third largest island.
Fukuoka city in Fukuoka prefecture is one of the largest cities in Japan, and Hakata area has been serving as an important port and commercial center.

Fukuoka is close to Korea and the airport is always busy with people traveling.
It is one of the most progressive cities in Japan and has a lot to offer!
Below are the popular things/places in Fukuoka prefecture.
Be sure to check them out!

    1. See Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival

      It is an annual festival held in July for 2 weeks and has the history of over 700 years.
      Two kinds of floats are used during the festival: Kazariyama floats and Kakiyama floats.
      Kazariyama floats are larger floats which are over 10 meters tall.
      During July 1st to 14th, 14 of them are displayed outside.
      Kakiyama floats are smaller and they are about 5 meters tall.
      In the morning of July 15th (at 4:59am, just before sunrise), the race of festival floats is held using them.
      There are 7 of them and each of them weights about 1 ton.
      Unlike floats in Takayama, they don’t have wheels and participants need to carry them in teams.
      It takes about 30 minutes to complete the course and floats run one by one in five minute intervals.
      Parades and practice runs for the race are held from July 10th to 14th and all floats are lined up in front of Kushida Shrine, where the start line is.
      Kushida Shrine is located about 15 to 20 minutes away from Hakata Station (five minutes walk away from Gion Subway station or Canal city Hakata).
      It gets really crowded during the event but it really is an exciting event!


      画像提供:ソザイング

    2. Eat at Yatai/Food Stalls

      If you want to eat out and try some local Japanese food, Nakasu is the place to go!
      There are a lot of Yatai/Food stalls along the Naka River.


      Hakata Ramen is a must-try Japanese food there.
      It has green onions and boiled or roasted pork (called Char Siu in Japanese) on top.
      Although the soup varies slightly from shop to shop, almost every soup of Hakata ramen is whitish and cloudy.
      Pork boned are boiled well until the soup gets white and cloudy and it is mixed with soy sauce.
      It tastes like milk, and goes well with thin noodles.
      If you are really hungry, leave the soup after finishing the first.
      You can order Kaedama, or extra noodle and put it in the same soup to keep enjoying the great taste of Hakata Ramen!
      As an option, you can add some toppings like half-boiled eggs, Takana( Pickled and mustard leaf with red peppers), or
      Beni Shoga (pickled ginger root).

      写真提供：福岡市

      Motsunabe is another popular food in Fukuoka.
      Motsu means offal or internal organs of cows and pigs, and Nabe means hot pot.
      So, Motsunabe is a hot pot with various offal and vegetables like leek, garlic, and cabbage.
      It might sound a little too exotic to people from western countries, but it really is tasty and people say it has good effects for beauty since it contains high amounts of collagen.

      Karashi Mentaiko(Pollock roe with red chili pepper spices) is also popular in Hakata area.

    3. Visit Kyushu National Museum

      Opened in 2005, it is Japan’s first new national museums in more than 100 years.
      The building is carefully designed, and contains large number of historically important artifacts including prehistoric relics that show the history of trading link among Japan, Korea, and China.

      Access: About 10 to 15 min walk away from Dazaifu Station.
      Hours: 9:30am to 5:00pm
      Price: 430yen to enter

    4. Relax at Sumiyoshi shrine

      It is one of the oldest shrines in Kyushu (about 1,800years old) and is surrounded by large Japanese cedars and camphor trees.
      The shrine is dedicated to safe travel by sea.
      Sailors would visit the shrine before leaving the port to pray for the safe trip.
      The main hall is rebuilt in 1623, but it still has the ancient architectural style.
      Inside, there is a Noh theater with a traditional style stage.

      Access: About 10 min walk away from JR Hakata station.
      Hours: 6:00am to 9:00pm
      Price: Free to enter

    5. Pray at Dazaifu Tenman-Gu

      It is a shine dedicated to the spirit of Sugawara Michizane, a scholar and politician of the Heian Period (750-1185), who is known as the god of learning.
      So, this shrine is busy with a lot of students praying for academic achievement and passing exams.
      About 6,000 plum trees are planted around and they bloom beautifully from early February to mid March.Hours: 6:30am to 7:00pm (closed from Dec 31st to Jan 3rd).


      Access: About 5 min walk away from Dazaifu station.

      Hours:
      6:00am to 7:00pm (April and May)
      6:00am to 7:30pm (June to August)
      6:00am to 7:00pm (Until mid September)
      6:30am to 7:00pm (late September to November)
      6:30am to 6:30pm (December to mid March)
      6:00am to 6:30pm (late March)
      ※Opens until 20:30 on Fridays and Saturdays
      Price: Free to enter

    6. Take pics at Fukuoka Castle

      It is a castle also known as Maizuru Castle or Seki Castle made in Edo period (1603 to 1868).
      The construction started in 1601 by the first lord of Fukuoka province, Kuroda Nagamasa, and it took 7 years to complete.
      There are more than 1,000 cherry blossoms around, and it is a very popular place for tourists visiting in Spring.
      Sadly, during the war period around 1873, most of it was destroyed in order to use the site for military and only ruined walls and a few turrets remain on the site now.
      Still, it is a great place to learn about history there and take great pictures!

      写真提供：福岡市

      Access: About 10 to 15 min walk away from Ohori Koen subway station.
      It is always open and the admission is free except during illumination events.

By the way, Fukuoka is known as the place where a lot of beautiful women are.
They are called “Hakata Bijin” (beautiful women in Hakata/around Fukuoka area).
Fukuoka has been an important place for import-export and many different kinds of races were mixed in the area.
It is believed that it contributed to the produce of somewhat exotic, beautiful look!

Access

From Tokyo

Take an airplane at Haneda Airport to Fukuoka Airport.
One way flight costs around 16,000yen to 41,390yen and it takes about 2 hours.

From Nagoya

Take an airplane at chubu centrair international airport to Fukuoka Airport.
One way flight costs around 6,000yen and it takes about 1 and a half hours.

From Osaka

You could either take Shinkansen (bullet train) or airplane.
By train, take Nozomi, Hikari, or Kodama train at Shin-Osaka station and it goes directly to Hakata station.
One way fare is 14,480yen for non-reserved seat and it takes about 2 and a half hours.

By airplane, take a flight at Osaka International Airport to Fukuoka Airport.
It takes about 1 hour and the fare ranges from 13,400 to 27,000yen.

As an alternative way, you could take Kansai International Airport to Fukuoka Airport.
They have LCC flights and the ticket price can be as low as 3,690yen for one way and it takes about 1 hour to get to Fukuoka.
However it has less daily flights so be sure to check the flight schedule!


Here’s today’s music!
This instrumental tune is called “Lotus”.

I came up with the main theme while I was walking through the garden in Kyoto (and also in Himeji).
Featuring Banjo by Ryosuke Toyomaki and Violin by Mori de Maigo (They are my friends).

I carefully constructed the beat for this tune.
If you listen carefully, you hear the hi-hats are beating slightly differently on left and right.
I did that purposely so that it would create more space and make the music alive.
And I played the bass, piano, synth, and guitar over it.
Hope you dig it!

See you next time!
Taka

 

※I’m a professional composer. My songs are available here: Skyhigh 
Or, you can click on the band camp link below to listen.

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Be prepared for the longest Golden Week!

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Have you ever heard of “Golden week”?

It is a Japan-made English expression for the vacation time from the end of April to the 2nd week of May.
If you are planning to come to Japan (or traveling in Japan) during this time, be prepared!
For many workers, Golden week is the longest vacation time of the year.
Hotels get booked quickly and plane and bus/train tickets get sold out pretty easily.
In addition, since we have the change of era in the middle of Golden week this year, it is even longer than usual and could be really crowded everywhere!
Here is the detail about this vacation week of Japan.

How the week became “Golden”.

Nine official holidays were declared in 1948 by the Japanese government,
and people started taking vacation at the end of April and in the beginning of May.
A lot of people spent money for traveling and entertainment during the period.
It was named “Golden Week” by Hideo Matsuyama from Daiei Film company in 1951 since the ticket sales of movies were the recorded high.
(At that time in the radio industry, the time with the highest listener ratings was called “Golden time”, so he named after that.)
And it still is the Gold-Making week for many business owners!

Golden Week of 2019

The Heisei Era (the current era which lasted for 30 years) will end on April 30th this year.
The current emperor, Akihito is passing the throne to his son, Naruhito on the day.
The new era of Naruhito’s reign will begin the following day.
So, including the event, this year’s vacation time is really long.
Counting from April 27th, Golden week of 2019 consists of 10 days.
Very “Gold” for a lot of workers and students!

・April 27th and 28th:Weekends
・April 29th:Showa day, the previous emperor’s birthday. Greenery Day was on this day until 2006.
・April 30th:Citizen’s Holiday, Day of Abdication
・May 1st:Coronation Day of the new Emperor
・May 2nd:Citizen’s Holiday
・May 3rd:Constitution Memorial Day
・May 4th:Greenery Day (this holiday is dedicated to the nature since the emperor loved it)
・May 5th:Children’s Day (this is also considered as the boy’s festival. Parents pray for healthy, successful life of their sons)
・May 6th:Substitute holiday for Children’s Day (Because it’s on Sunday this year)

Although it might be the best time to hang out with your Japanese friends,
hotels and flight tickets can be really expensive during this time.

Alright, Here’s today’s song!
This is my song called “Looping Days”.
It is about the everyday life in big cities.
Lyrics are somewhat sarcastic.
And I made the music lively to make it even more sarcastic lol
City lights are bright and you live in the material world,
but it’s hard to find a true friend/partner there.

今日も単純な事を繰り返す
We live the same day like everyday.

自分勝手な行動は決して許されず
We are not allowed to do what we want.

そして完璧な態度で役柄をこなす
And we act like robots

息をつく暇も無く回り続けている
Working crazy without having any time to rest.

特に不自由な事は無いけれど
It seems that we have everything we need,

何か足りないといつも思っている
But always feel that something is missing.

そんな時に限って空は雨模様
Then it starts raining.

何処に逃げようたって　いずれ濡れるのさ
Wherever you go, you will get wet anyways.

あぁ嫌になっちゃうな　なんて
“I really don’t like this.”

言葉投げかけてみて
I talk it to myself.

思い通りにいかなくて辛いよ
I can’t have the day I want.

あぁ嫌になっちゃうな　なんて
“I really don’t like this.”

言葉投げかけてみて
I talk it to myself.

今を駆け抜けたい
I want to live today as I want.

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.

Ohh, I’d better make my plans for Golden week!
See you next time.
Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Where to go during Sakura season in 2019

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Hi, how are you? I got a slight fever the other day but getting better now…

From the end of March to May, Sakura trees bloom all over Japan.
The season of Hanami is just around the corner!
Hanami, or flower viewing (most of the times referring to the viewing of Cherry blossom) is one of the most popular customs in Japan.

People gather and sit under the cherry trees and spend time with a boyfriend/girlfriend, friends, or family.
Most people drink and eat together admiring the beautiful scenery.
Popular Hanami spots get really crowded with people and food stalls, so if you are planning to enjoy the event, you’d better plan ahead!

Hanami usually lasts until late evening each day.
The viewing of Sakura at night time is called Yozakura (night sakura).
Here is a brief history about it and some great spots to enjoy the event in Japan!

Short History of Hanami

It is said that the custom of Hanami started during the Nara period (710-794).
Ume, or plum tree was popular, but by the Heian period(794-1185),
Sakura became the most popular tree/flower.
Back then, people believed that Kami (God of nature) was inside the trees and made offerings to pray for a good harvest year.

Originally, Emperor Saga of the era started having the flower-viewing parties and only the elite of the Imperial court did the practice.
Later on, people began gathering under the Sakura trees and started enjoying drinking sake and eating food sharing time together, and by the Edo period, it spread all over the Japan and it still is one of the most popular events of Spring.

There are about 600 kinds of Sakura in Japan.
Among them, Somei-Yoshino accounts for 80%.
Other popular kinds are Shidare-zakura (it has dangling branches), and Kawazu-Zakura (it has big, beautiful petals and deep pink color).

Popular Hanami spots

In Tokyo


Sumida-park

The park is near Tokyo sky tree, and is one of the most popular Hanami spots in Tokyo.
It has about 640 Sakura trees lined up by the river for about 1 km between the Azumabashi and Sakurabashi bridge.

Closest station: Asakusa station

Chidori-ga-fuchi

About 260 Sakura trees stand along the moat of the imperial palace.
You can rent a rowboat to explore the moat if you would like.
In the evening, the trees are illuminated and visitors enjoy the beautiful view of Yozakura.

Closest station:Hanzoumon Station

Meguro river

It is located in Nakameguro area near Shibuya.
Over 800 Sakura trees are there lined up for 4km along the river.
Cherry blossom festival takes place every year during Hanami season.
You can enjoy the view of Sakura until 9pm each day.

Closest station: Tennoz Airu Station

Inokashira park

It is a beautiful park in my hometown, Kichijoji.
There are about 500 Sakura trees there and you can rent a small boat.
It gets really crowded with visitors, photographers, and street performers during Hanami season.
There is a Zoo and shrine inside of the area as well ,and near the park, there are a lot of nice cafes so you never get bored visiting the park!

Closest station:Inokashira park station

In Osaka


Temmabashi

It is a great place to enjoy Hanami in Osaka.
There is a street of Sakura called “Sakura no Tourinuke” which is open only for a week during the Hanami season.
You can admire 134 kinds of Sakura there from 10:00am until 9:00pm
(From 9:00am on weekends).

Closest station: Temmabashi Station

Osaka castle park

Over 4,000 Sakura trees are on the spacious grounds of Osaka castle.
With the majestic Castle, it is a great place to take beautiful pictures of Sakura trees!

Closest station:Osaka castle park station

Sakuranomiya

It is a park about 15 min train ride away from Osaka station.
The 4.2km long promenade along the river is lined up with around 4,800 Sakura trees.

Closest station:Sakuranomiya Station

In Kyoto


Maruyama Park

It is one of the most popular parks for Cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto.
There are over 680 Sakura trees including Somei Yoshino, Shidarezakura, and Yamazakura.
The park has a big Shidarezakura which is 88 years old, 12m high!

Closest station:Maruyama Park Station

Kiyomizu temple

Founded in 780, it is a world heritage site in Kyoto.
Around the temple, there are about 1,500 Sakura trees and you can enjoy the view from the popular Kiyomizu Stage.

Closest station:Kiyomizu Gojo Station

Arashiyama

It is located in the outskirts of Kyoto and famous for beautiful bamboo forest.
A lot of Sakura trees can be found near Togetsukyo Bridge below Arashiyama mountains.

Closest station: Arashiyama Station

According to weather map,
The prospects of the date of first bloom are March 22nd in Tokyo
March 20th in Nagoya, and 23rd in Kyoto and 25th in Osaka this year.
Sakura usually blooms for about one week.
If you are planning to visit Japan in Spring, don’t miss Hanami!

By the way, this is my music called “Edge” released in the Spring, 2015.
I wrote this song to encourage people having difficulties in life.

この世界の何処かの君に届くだろうか
I hope this song will reach you somewhere in the world

誰もがガラスの中　怯えて生きているけど
Life is fragile and everyone’s scared,

どんな時も　そう大切な物はきっとその目の前さ
But there’s always hope right in front of you

何処で迷っても　たとえどんなに苦しもうとも
Even if you get lost or how much you suffer,

手を伸ばして　いつだって　今以上求めていく
Spread your wings and live with aspirations.

隣り合う孤独には　背を向けてさよならを
Say Goodbye to the loneliness and live your life.

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.

What do you do in Spring in your country?
See you next time!
Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Recording day in Tokyo!! New album is coming soon.

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Hi, How are you?
Can’t believe that it’s already Feb!
I currently live in Takayama in Gifu prefecture,
but I go back to Tokyo when I have a recording work
(or just on days off to see my friends and parents).

Before the recording session, I went to Nerima with my friend.
He’s a professional cartoonist, and we’ve been together since we were amateurs.
He’s working on the series of works he’ll publish this year.
I might be able to introduce his manga on my blog sometime soon.
It’s always inspiring to be with a creative person like him.

There are some interesting bars/cafes in Tokyo.
That day, we went to this one called Tsuribori Cafe Catch and Eat.
(The link is the blog of the one in Kichijoji. We went to another one in Nerima).
You can fish and eat the ones you get there.
We caught 10 fishes in total and got them fried!

And then the recording session.
I worked with a guitar player, and a recording engineer.
The guitar player is a professional studio musician.
He often plays on the stage and can play many kinds of music from Hard Rock to Japanese idols.
He’s a great composer as well.
And the engineer is one of the best ones in Japan. Man, seriously he’s amazing!
He worked for many major Japanese artists like Yuzu, Chatmonchy, pillows, KANA-BOON…!

That’s the team I formed in Tokyo!

First I compose, play all instruments, arrange, and sing.
And then after recording all my parts, I ask the guitar player to play over it.
He usually takes the solos on my songs.
And the engineer works on the mixing.
My last album, Skyhigh was made by this team.

This new album we are working on will be out in Spring this year.
Here is me working in the studio. No effects or mixing yet.

After the recording, I had some drinks with the team and went back to my hometown, Kichijoji, and met my brother.
We walked around Inokashira park, drinking a cup of chai tea.
It was really relaxing. I’m glad to have a nice brother like him.

How’s your 2019 so far?
See you next time!
Taka

4 things you should know before visiting Japan

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Japan is a country with many rules.
If you do not know about them, you could be in trouble with neighbors, friends, etc.
In the worst case, you could be charged or caught by police (or both!).
Here are 4 major things that you should know before visiting/moving to Japan.
Learn about them for yourself and for others to make your stay enjoyable!

  1. Know where to park

    There aren’t many (almost none!) free parkings in Japan.
    You could be charged if you park on the road without any permissions or at someone’s premises.
    If you are going to live in Japan and planning to use a car, you should know where is OK to park.
    If you are travelling by car, you will need to find a coin-operated parking (usually located near a train station)
    It costs around 300 yen for an hour of use.

  2. Follow the rules when throwing away trash

    We recycle trash and you need to separate garbage into categories when you throw away.
    You might find it hard to find a garbage can outside other than at convenience stores or stations (there aren’t many places to throw away trash outside to keep the road clean and tidy).
    This might confuse you if you are traveling in Japan for the first time.
    If you are going to live in Japan, you will have to follow the local rule when taking out the trash as the way to separate trash is slightly different depending on the area (Usually the city office gives you a guidebook after giving you the resident card).
    When you throw away household garbage, you have to check the garbage calendar to know what kind of trash is picked up on the day. Then you have to put it in a specific garbage bag and take it to the designated area.

  3. Keep it quiet on public transport

    You have to refrain from talking on the phone while using public transport.
    Keeping privacy is very important in Japan, and you have to think of others (not to disturb them) in public.
    People keep themselves to themselves and don’t usually get involved in other people’s business.
    It is an etiquette to keep things clean and quiet so that other people around you can be comfortable.
    I think this custom is quite different from western countries where people enjoy interacting with strangers.

  4. Take some cash with you

    If you are planning to visit country side, you should take some cash with you.
    Japan is a very safe country and there isn’t much crime of stealing money.
    So in some places, especially in country side, people still use cash a lot and some stores don’t have card readers.
    It you go to an area where there’s no convenience store, you will have hard time finding an ATM ,so you should get some cash before traveling.
    *Btw, you don’t need to pay any tip at anywhere in Japan, so you don’t need to worry about carrying cash for that.

Above 4 things are major rules that anyone coming to Japan should know.
You might think that following rules can be stressful sometimes, but it is very important to keep things organized and be respectful to others in Japan.
If you are polite and respectful, people will like you and it will get much easier to make friends/settle.
Enjoy your stay in Japan!


This is me writing music at home.
Another recording session in Tokyo is coming soon!

You can listen to my music here:
Skyhigh
Soundtracks

Have a nice day!
Taka

*Need more info about Japan?
Give me a comment here or send me a message to
[email protected]

Happy New Year! 2019

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Hi! Happy new year from Japan! I can’t believe that it’s 2019 already.

It’s been a while since I wrote here last…
I was busy traveling in Europe and working on new album titled “Free somebody”.
If the recording session goes well, I can release it in Spring this year!

And I decided to post more movies on my site as I got some requests.
I will keep on posting info about my country and music!

Here are some pics of me in Bulgaria.

And me working at a recording studio in Tokyo. I compose and play all instruments.
Work in progress…!

To another good year!

Taka

※Complete song is available here Skyhigh Or click on the band camp link below.