Turtle heaven
Shukkei-en (縮景園) turtles in Hiroshima, Japan
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Posts tagged hiroshima
Crane at Hiroshima’s Ground Zero
Crane (鶴) @ Hiroshima bomb site (Motoyasu River)
The atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima had the bridge spanning the Motoyasu River as its target. The bomb didn’t exactly hit its target, but that didn’t matter since it took out everything within a much wider radius. The spot from where I took today’s photo was just below the actual location where the bomb detonated.
Koamicho Bus Stop (小網町バス停)
“Mega Egg” passing the Koamicho Bus Stop
Hiroshima, Japan
Today’s photo was taken while I was waiting for the “bus” near the place where I stayed in Hiroshima. By the way, if you want a friendly host, inexpensive rate, and great WiFi access while in Hiroshima, stay at Sansui Ryokan (山水旅館). Pretty much everyone who stays here is a foreigner so if you don’t want that scene pick somewhere else. However, when I stayed here (during rainy season) there were no other guests. The bike rental was an attraction for me, and I rode the bike all over Hiroshima.
The place isn’t really a ryokan; it’s more of a minshuku. And the bus stop isn’t really for buses; it’s for the Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden Streetcar) as you can see. The owner of Sansui is super nice and helpful. She was excited to have someone she could speak with in Japanese. I helped her translate some of her messages into English so that they made sense, and she was very grateful as I was to her for her hospitality.
Yasuhiro Ogawa (小川 泰弘) wins 2013 Rookie of the Year Award in the Central League
Yasuhiro Ogawa (小川 泰弘)
This one is a little late in the news department, but a few weeks ago Yakult Swallows pitcher Yasuhiro Ogawa won the Rookie of the Year Award. He was fantastic the time I saw him pitch in Hiroshima.
Why is he throwing on the sidelines even though he is a starting pitcher you ask? In both Japan and Korea, starting pitchers throw when their team is at bat. Unlike MLB, in which pitchers are held to strict pitch counts (usually around 100 pitches), these starting pitchers in Japan and Korea frequently throw more than 200 pitches if you count their bullpen and foul territory pitches.
Wladimir Balentien – Home Run King?
Wladimir Balentien hits a 3-run home run for the Yakult Swallows on June 22, 2013
Balentien rounds the bases in Hiroshima
Coco Meter for Balentien just prior to him tying Japan’s home run record
With 23 games to go in the Nippon Professional Baseball season, my Yakult Swallows have no hope of winning the title this year as they are dead last in the standings. However, there is still much excitement for the team as one of their players is almost a sure bet to set the single-season home run record for Japan. I went to two Swallows games this year, and they were both won by the Swallows thanks to the heroics of Wladimir Balentien.
When I saw them in Hiroshima, Balentien hit a home run with two runners on base. The Swallows beat the Carp 3-0 on that day. Yakult also won when I saw them in Tokyo in August, a day in which Balentien drew two walks, was hit by a pitch, and scored two runs in a 2-1 victory. (Unfortunately, the Swallows are 45-71-2 when I wasn’t in attendance; perhaps they should make sure I’m at all of the games.)
The “Coco Meter” projects 65 HRs for Balentien, which will best the prior record (co-held by Alex Cabrera, Tuffy Rhodes, and Sadaharu Oh) by 10 home runs. He currently has 54 home runs for the season.
Happy Japanese mom @ Shukkei-en (縮景園)
Japanese lady in Shukkei-en (縮景園)
A Japanese girl was going through a photo shoot in full kimono in Hiroshima’s Shukkei-en (perhaps for her coming of age or seijinshiki or 成人式). My self-appointed personal guide asked the photographer if I could take some photos of her too, and they were all too happy to oblige. However, the model’s smiles all looked a little forced and unnatural in the dozen or so photos I took. I took one of her mom watching her daughter have her picture taken and found her smile to be far more genuine.