Cliff Hangers

After the mountain last weekend, we felt like going to the sea instead. “Day Walks Near Tokyo” promises “rugged coastline and sea views” at Cape Tsurugi (剣崎) on the Miura Peninsula which we could reach in one and a half hours of train from Tokyo.

At the Theatre

We finally filled a gap in our exploration of Japanese culture: we went to Kabuki (歌舞伎). Having been magically attracted by the painted faces on the ads for the Asakusa New Year Kabuki, I managed to procure ourselves with tickets (a true online odyssey, Japanese only). Since we did not know if we would like it, we went for a small financial investment. Which was a pity, because from the third rank of the very big Asakusa Public Hall, the makeup that had attracted me so much in the first place could not be properly appreciated. Kabuki performances last an entire day: you forget the everyday world and spend a day at the theater. During this day, several different pieces are scheduled, something for every taste.

IPMU Picture Book

Last week, we finally moved into the new IPMU building! I don’t need to stress how big an improvement it is to move out from an overpopulated prefab to an actual building. Especially when the new building is really nice!
I’ll not bore you with a lot of text here, let the pictures speak for themselves!

The Road to the Toad

If I were a mountain goat, surely I would have found the trail up Mt. Tsukuba (筑波山) easy as well. To me, it looked more like a dried up torrent strewn with irregular boulders than a trail. I did find the trail steep, and I did not find it easy. The only reason why the hike up Mt. Tsukuba can pretend to the label “easy” is because it is short. We made it up to the saddle between the twin peaks of Nantai-san (男体山, 870m) and Nyotai-san (女体山, 876m) in one hour and ten minutes.

Terrace Update X

Dwellers of Northern climes might wonder what kind of update I might have in January. But there’s actually quite something going on here. Upon our return from Europe, I found to my surprise, that for some of my plants, the season has never ended: the snapdragons, heliochrysum and the geraniums are blooming as happily as always.

Inba Marsh

Being spoiled with clear blue skies, we decided to try another of the “Day Walks near Tokyo“. Among those recommended for winter is the one along Inba Marsh(印旛沼) close to the town of Sakura (Chiba). Anyone who has already taken a train between Tokyo and Narita Airport has passed there already. The walk starts out in Usui. From there, one walks until one hits the lake and follows it (the lake to one’s left). The book promised many birds, but they could be mainly heard, in the form of talking reeds. The walk is very easy and pleasant, but Kanto, as a general statement, does not offer much of a landscape.

Thanks for all the help!

After getting everyone worried about the threat of budget cuts, I guess it’s fair to let you know that for now, everything is alright. The numbers for the budget of the next fiscal year are out, and IPMU will be cut by only 3.6%. Given the prospects, we are very relieved. The Minister of Education has received about 900 letters supporting the WPI program, most of which were in behalf of IPMU! A big thank you to everyone who wrote one!

Read more over at the Quantum Diaries.

Draft vs. Insulator

Last winter, I already deplored the state of Japanese insulation and heating. While back then, we were simply paralyzed in the face of our cold flat and were just waiting for spring in front of the heater, burning through Yen as time passed, this year, we are taking an active stance! We started the battle against the draft. As a first step, we covered the windows in the guest room (which in our house goes by the name of Siberia) with bubble wrap. The edges of the windows we covered with insulating rubber foam tape. After having gone around our living room with a stick of incense, exposing the draftiest corners, we started taping also the edges of our living room windows. To further stop drafts, we placed rolls of felt under the entrance door and the door to Siberia, as well as at the lower edges of the sliding windows. The result of all this: 15 degrees Celsius in the morning instead of 14. That maybe doesn’t sound so great, but we also don’t get the cold drafts in the neck anymore.
As supplementary measures, we bought a big hot water bottle for the bed (which actually does stay warm until the morning), and I started wearing a lined morning robe on top of my clothes in the house.

Fuji on the Beach

For views of Fuji, you have to get up early and it has to be winter, when the skies are a bright, clear blue.
Today, inspired by view Nr. 30 of the famous Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai, we went to see it from Shichirigahama (七里ケ浜), a beach close to the town of Kamakura.

Happy New Year!

Chusen style tenugui (hand cloth)

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. The tiger is one of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac, the others being Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat and Ox.
For a while already, small tiger figurines and decorations have been for sale all over Japan, replacing last year’s ox.
We wish a Happy Year of the Tiger to everyone!