Green Tokyo (2) – Ensemble with Wind Bell

Green Tokyo (2) - Ensemble with Wind Bell

In Tokyo’s concrete jungle, the green often has to content itself with small spaces to live. But live it does!
This is another example from our neighborhood in Taito.
I like how the wind bell gives this small collection of potted plants perched on top of an air conditioning unit a distinctly Japanese touch! It’s nice that the space taken by the air conditioning unit was turned into a platform to add some green to Tokyo’s streets.

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The Windbell Market

As first-hand experience is teaching us, the Japanese summer is very hot and thanks to the high humidity, very stuffy. Any breeze is most welcome.
To provide psychological relief, wind bells (風鈴, furin) are hung next to windows or under the eaves of houses to mark the passing of a refreshing breeze. These bells are mostly made from glass or iron with a paper strip to catch the wind attached to its clapper with a string.
We had already purchased some wind-bells along the way, a pig-shaped one on our very first visit to Asakusa, and an iron “three harmony” in Kyoto. So we were very sympathetic to the idea of visiting the famous wind bell market in Kawasaki which is taking place these days.

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