Photographs from a small group of islands
Many of the U.S. military bases in Japan hold open days of some kind or another. With visitors generally consuming vast numbers of hamburgers and hotdogs. Plus perhaps having a quick look around a fighter jet or two.
The so called “American Fest” at Okinawa’s Kadena airbase yesterday was no different. Except that (perhaps to celebrate the expiration of the 1994 assault weapon ban), young children were allowed to play with helicopter machine guns.
Here is a wonderful picture of Mount Asami in central Japan, spewing smoke up to a kilometre into the sky.
The eruption was classed as small, but still resulted in nearby towns being covered in ash. And possibly more worrying for local residents is that it’s the second eruption in the space of two weeks.
The 2,568-metre mountain is one of Japan’s largest and most active volcanoes, and in 1947 eleven mountaineers were killed after being hit by molten rocks. Yet these recent eruptions have all been classed in the minor-to-medium bracket, and those in the surrounding area can perhaps take some heart in the fact that Asami-san has not had a major eruption since way back in 1783.
Having grown up in England (where volcanoes are just something to stare at it in awe on the TV or in books), seeing this kind of thing happening in the country I live in is just extraordinary. And the events at Mount Asami are by no means unusual either. Japan has a hefty 108 active volcanoes.
This fascination however could quickly turn to fear, as a year or two ago rumbles were felt around Mount Fuji, causing experts to consider the possibility of an eruption. Something that really doesn’t bear thinking about…
The name means flower sound, and the contraption consists of a donut-shaped magnet and coil that sits at the base of a vase and can be connected to a CD player, stereo, or TV. Then all you need to do is place some flowers in the vase, and the magnet and coil relay the sound vibrations up the stems and through the plant’s water tubes.
Ka-on vases and amplifiers come in various sizes and prices, the most expensive set retailing at 35,000 yen (175 pounds). Which it has to be said is a lot of money to have the sound of your favourite albums destroyed by playing them through a flower.
On my way down to the train station yesterday, I was fortunate enough to run into a small local festival. An event that mostly involved the men folk carrying a mikoshi — a (not so) portable shrine — up the street.
Their progress was as slow and unsteady as you would imagine, but the accompanying beat of a huge drum seemed to help spur them on.
But the cheeky chap sat atop the drum undoubtedly had the best job of the day.
For any of you that thought a fruit bowl was adequate in regards to fruit storage had better think again. At least as far as bananas go anyway.
Yes, if you want to keep your favourite yellow fruit in tiptop condition, a Banana Stand is the only way to go.
And if you look closely at the box, you’ll see that it even doubles up as a grape holder too. Fantastic!
What are you waiting for?